North Carolina Tar Heels: Garrison Brooks Commits to UNC
The North Carolina Tar Heels may have put a little more certainty into the 2018 front court by getting a commitment from Garrison Brooks.
If one did not know any better, one might believe that the North Carolina Tar Heels were hedging their bets a little bit. Yesterday the Tar Heels announced the commitment of former Mississippi State signee and Auburn, Alabama native Garrison Brooks as an addition to their recruiting class. Brooks does not have the name recognition of the still uncommitted Kevin Knox, but he does answer a rather important question.
Brooks, a four start recruit, becomes the highest ranking big man coming in with this signing class. He therefore becomes the leader in the clubhouse to start at the power forward position next season. If Tony Bradley were not to return, Brooks might find himself pressed into the starting center’s role next to Luke Maye. Alternatively, he might be one of two freshman bigs having to compete for rebounds in the best conference in America.
Brooks’ current size is evidently disputed. Scout recruiting services has him listed at 6’9” while his home paper lists him at 6’10”. That inch won’t change much about his role on the team this coming season.
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Brooks becomes part of the biggest class of big men (don’t forget Sterling Manley and Brandon Huffman) to come to Chapel Hill since 2007. That was the year that Deon Thompson, Alex Stepheson, and Brandan Wright all came to town together in one bunch. While claiming Wright’s mantle could be hard, finding Thompsons or Stephesons in the group would not be bad. It is worth pointing out that Stepheson eventually transferred away from the logjam even after Wright had gone pro.
Brooks may prove to be an exciting player, but this move is a clear insurance move against Tony Bradley going pro. The Tar Heels are going to be young in the post anyway next year. Now, they have the chance to be super young. That could be good and bad. Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, and Isaiah Hicks all had their growing pains. In the end, two of those guys won national titles.