Continuing to build up the 2017 class, the Tar Heels have extended a scholarship offer to senior center Garrison Brooks. Roy Williams and assistant coach Hubert Davis made a home visit to the Brooks family in Auburn, Alabama and it ended with an official offer. UNC now joins Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M among the bigger basketball schools to offer.
The six-foot-nine, 215-pound four-star talent is ranked 134th in the national composite. 247 Sports has him ranked as the No. 31 power forward in the class, but it’s obvious that the Tar Heels are looking at him as a center. He is also the fourth-best player out of the state of Alabama.
Scout.com mentions that Brooks is unpolished, but plays a good physical brand of basketball that works well for him.
Brooks does of a good job of gaining good position, as he'll play physical inside and battle for his spot in the post. Though not a polished offensive player by any means, he appears to be a solid finisher and should enjoy a size matchup throughout high school and college as long as he's the second-biggest guy on the court for his team. He also boasts a sturdy frame that will surely fill out when he gets into a college weight room. Brooks also does a good job on the glass, especially the offensive glass, where his ability to get good position factors in.
UNC offer pic.twitter.com/jC8Y8nKzQi
— G A R R I S O N (@laflare_10) September 10, 2016
Brooks gained late interest during this evaluation period after he average 18 points and eight rebounds during the adidas circuit this summer. While he’s always had the frame and athleticism to compete, this showing proved that his offense is improving and he could become a serious weapon down low for any of the power schools currently on him.
As far as recruiting goes, Brooks says that North Carolina, Arizona State, Auburn, Georgia, and SMU are among the programs recruiting him the hardest. As a home state talent, Auburn is paying special attention to him, recently bringing the entire coaching staff for a home visit. It’s also worth noting that his father is a coach for Mississippi State, and he seems to have a special relationship with Campbell University assistant director of basketball operations Ander Galfsky, though it’s highly unlikely he will choose a lesser school at this point.
247 Sports’ crystal ball predicts a 38% chance that he chooses UNC, putting them in the lead over Mississippi State (31%), Georgia (15%), and Auburn (8%). Arizona State and Georgia plan to visit him this coming week, and Brooks plans to take his official visit to Chapel Hill on October 7. The big man says he will make his final decision in November and will not be releasing a list of top schools.
