Archie Miller has stayed true to his promise of recruiting the state hard and Brooks has been a top priority for a long time. Keion Brooks Jr. (12) Forward - Follow @KeionB_12 on Twitter | Follow @klbj.xii on Instagram HIGH SCHOOL Ranked in the top 35 by the major recruiting services, "I think people have a difficult time separating the athlete from the sport that they play," Brooks said. CLASS OF 2019. Rupp, who won four national titles at Kentucky, famously fielded an all-white starting five in a loss to a Texas Western team with an all-Black starting five in the 1966 national title game. On Thursday, members of Kentucky's football team walked out of practice to protest racial and social injustice, a day after NBA players boycotted games. 6'7'' | 195 lbs. Kentucky enters the 2020-21 college basketball season with only one player who saw action for the Wildcats last season. La Lumiere School. "From what I do know, I would like to see a name change just basically because of what his name is and what that's connected to and what that kind of represents. In an exclusive statement to ESPN on Friday, the same group of Black faculty members commended Brooks and called him a key leader. "The shooting of Jacob Blake is yet another example of the police brutality and systemic racism that our country has tolerated for far too long. WESTFIELD – There’s no mistaking Keion Brooks Jr. on the basketball court. Technically, Brooks could claim the same thing. Mintz threads nice pass to Brooks to set up Kentucky jam. Originally suffering a calf injury back in early October – one that was initially deemed “nothing major” – John Calipari announced later in the month Brooks would be out “a couple more weeks.” ?? That's not how this is. Keion Brooks Jr. Keion Brooks - 5 Star Small forward for Kentucky on CatsIllustrated. Kentucky basketball forward Keion Brooks Jr. said he backs a push by Black faculty members in the school's African American and Africana Studies department to … Brooks reportedly had offers from 21 programs before … All Keion cares about is trying to help this team win. “Close game down the stretch, you want the ball in your hands. The game will be televised live on ESPN2, and the Oak Hill roster features five-star guard Cole Anthony, one of the top five prospects in the 2019 class. Brooks’ recruitment promises to be as fascinating as his game. floor from all kind of different angles," the player's father said. The group recently requested the change, saying Adolph Rupp's legacy is tied to a history of racism and discrimination. "Being honest, I haven't educated myself well enough on Adolph Rupp or just the whole situation at hand to really give you my thoughts on it," said Brooks, who is also a member of the SEC Council on Racial Equality and Social Justice. Come fan with us. We have all been patient with this but obviously we all wanted Keion out there with us, no one more so than him. January 4, 2019 Mike Schumann IUBB, Recruiting 3. Keion Brooks Jr.’s first experience with the need to remain humble in the face of basketball praise came when he was a fifth grader. Small forward. — Keion Brooks Jr. (@KeionB_12) August 3, 2018 Though the news is simply a narrowed list, this is an important step for the Hoosiers. Rupp, a polarizing figure in life and death, has been accused of making racist statements and failing to integrate his program by recruiting Black players until the end of his tenure. More importantly, Calipari ran several key plays for Brooks down the stretch, including the team’s game-winning shot attempt in the final seconds. He is 6-8 and weighs 190 pounds. Finally, we encourage Mr. Brooks, student-athletes, and students interested in these issues to consider enrolling in our Race and Sports class in Spring 2021.". The longtime IU target instead will join another star-studded UK recruiting class. ", Brooks said the police shootings have made him fearful of how he would be treated in similar encounters, especially if he didn't play basketball for Kentucky. That left sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr. as the lone returning player from last year’s rotation; he started six of 31 games. Fort Wayne, IN. Edit. The competition for Brooks is intense. "He courageously supported our call to change the name of Rupp Arena. He had missed Perhaps class of 2019 five-star Keion Brooks, Jr. has, for all practical intents and purposes, made his decision. Keion has been conditioning with us and doing non-contact drills, but he is fully cleared now. — Jerry Tipton (@JerryTipton) December 8, 2020 Calipari tends to … I don't even grasp how that makes sense," said Brooks, referencing the shooting of Blake. We commend the NBA, WNBA and MLB players for taking this powerful stand. Keion Brooks Jr., chipped in 15, while Olivier Sarr and Davion Mintz added 13 and 11 points, ... recruiting, and more delivered straight to your inbox. Grateful to be back on the floor with my brothers. For his junior season at Fort Wayne North, Brooks put up massive numbers, averaging 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Within the fan base, however, those accusations are often challenged and disputed. “The biggest play of the game, I went at Keion,” Calipari said at the time. When Keion Brooks Jr. was 9 or 10 years old, his father would put him in front of a mirror. Mr. Brooks has made this stand knowing full well the vitriol he will face from a segment of University of Kentucky sports fans. Brooks appeared in all 31 games for the Wildcats during his freshman campaign in 2019-20, including six starts. After sitting out UK’s first nine games of the season with an injured calf, Brooks announced this evening that he has been cleared by team doctors, meaning he will make his sophomore debut when the team heads to Florida on Saturday. We have strong views on topics just like the fans do. LEXINGTON, Ky. (WYMT) - University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr. has been medically cleared to return to the court, according to a Thursday night release from UK Athletics. “Prayers were answered!!! "Some people agree, some people are not going to agree," he said during a Zoom call on Wednesday to announce the hiring of former Indiana assistant Bruiser Flint. College Basketball Power Rankings: Florida State, Alabama on the rise, Kentucky faculty want Rupp Arena name change, Calipari: White privilege has helped my career, Kentucky's football team walked out of practice, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. “You look and say, “He’s only averaging five points? Jackson-Davis finished with 18 points, while Brooks put up 22 points in front of a multitude of high profile college coaches, including Archie Miller. Earlier this week, Calipari said he was open to a conversation about the arena's name but also suggested he doesn't anticipate learning anything new that would compel him to agree that it should be changed. Keion. Kentucky fans have been closely tracking the status of sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr., who has not played in the 2020-21 season while recovering from a calf injury he suffered in the fall. Small forward. He said he feels like "we're being hunted. Put us in that camp. In that span, the 6-foot-7 forward scored 138 total points, had 99 rebounds, totaled 13 blocks, posted 11 steals and had six assists. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Keion Brooks Jr. of the Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky fans have been closely tracking the status of sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr., who has not played in the 2020-21 season while recovering from a calf injury he suffered in the fall. Brooks, Jr. spoke highly of both programs and they have long been believed to be the top contenders other than IU. 2020 point gu... La Lumiere (IN) stayed perfect knocking off DeMatha (MD) 73-50 at Hoophall Classic. Kentucky basketball forward Keion Brooks Jr. said he backs a push by Black faculty members in the school's African American and Africana Studies department to change the name of Rupp Arena. Keion Brooks Jr. is a forward for La Lumiere and Spiece Indy Heat. UK basketball commitment Keion Brooks will be back on national TV on Friday, when his undefeated La Lumiere (Ind.) Brooks, a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player Development Coalition, averaged 4.5 PPG last season. Our team doctors have medically cleared me to play.”. Some breaking news released this morning regarding Keion Brooks: After getting hurt, then fully participating in UK's "pro day", then participating in all drills, and ; ... Indiana Basketball Recruiting Forum (2019) SF Keion Brooks Jr. to Kentucky Theme . Thursday evening, Brooks posted a brief message on Twitter, and it … As it stands now, the Spartans for Brooks, Jr. are similar to Indiana for Trendon Watford. The group has also asked John Calipari and his team to meet with it to discuss the arena's name. But that's not going to work. Brooks. They just want us to go out there, entertain them for an hour or two and shut up. “I’M BACK,” Brooks Jr. announced. SB Nation is the largest independent sports media brand, consisting of SBNation.com, MMAFighting.com and over 300 fan-centric team communities. Our team doctors have medically cleared me to play. moments during his career. The NCAA tournament isn't expanding in 2021, but what if it did? "Just because I go and play basketball ... that does not mean I don't have morals and values and opinions and views on certain things. ", Kentucky's Brooks wants Rupp Arena name shift, Is Kentucky done, is UNC really better than Duke and other college basketball questions, UConn halts after sharing court with infected ref, Stanford basketball teams set for campus return, South Carolina's Frink to miss rest of season, Big East extends commish Ackerman through '24, Izzo: Spartans to return Thursday at Rutgers, Neubauer out as Fordham coach after 6 seasons, Va. Tech suspends starting G Radford indefinitely. Kentucky basketball forward Keion Brooks Jr. said he backs a push by Black faculty members in the school's African American and Africana Studies department to change the name of Rupp Arena. Keion Brooks Jr. is the final piece to Indiana basketball’s recruiting puzzle. We are obviously excited to have him back.”. Earlier this year, athletic director Mitch Barnhart said the arena's name should remain. Davion Mintz draws a double team, but bounces a pass to Keion Brooks Jr., who finishes with a dunk. "For me, personally, knowing the family ... What's out there that tells me it's something different?". Many had expected that a decision would have been reached by now. "It has to be Rupp Arena," he said at a news conference earlier this year. Kentucky Wildcats forward Keion Brooks Jr. will not be a one-and-done player at the SEC program. Kentucky basketball forward Keion Brooks Jr. said he backs a push by Black faculty members in the school's African American and Africana Studies department to change the name of Rupp Arena. Kentucky’s Keion Brooks Jr. catches a lob during the Wildcats’ contest vs. Georgia on Jan. 21. "When you're recruiting, when you're having teams come in here to play and people come in here, this is Rupp Arena. Brooks is a 5-star prospect and is currently ranked the #23 recruit and the #6 small forward of the 2019 class, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Today, Keion Brooks Jr. announced his commitment to Kentucky. Five star forward Keion Brooks Jr. warms up before La Lumiere’s game against Center Grove on Saturday December 8. Kentucky freshman Keion Brooks Jr. will return to Kentucky for his sophomore year, his father Keion Brooks Sr. told CatsPause.com Monday. In those seven games, Keion Brooks, Jr. is averaging: 2.6 points-per-game 3.8 rebounds-per-game Not exactly the type of one-and-done, showcase statistics I'm imagining he and his father wanted to … Keion Brooks, Jr. Thread starter MikeHoncho69; Start date Feb 25 ... transferred to Michigan without sitting out for a year by claiming he had been "misled by coaches during the recruiting process." 24 overall player in the class of 2019, per 247Sports' composite rankings. "The faculty of the African American [and] Africana Studies Program and the Commonwealth Institute of Black Studies offer our support to Keion Brooks, Jr.," the statement said. In his first game of the season, Keion Brooks Jr. scored 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting and Kentucky more closely resembled its No. That player, sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr., is currently nursing a leg injury, according to UK head coach John Calipari. "Keion has worked on shooting the ball from different spots on the. Per the letter, Rupp's name has "come to stand for racism and exclusion in [Kentucky] athletics and alienates Black students, fans, and attendees.". Kentucky's Keion Brooks Jr. (12) shoots between Louisville's Dwayne Sutton (24) and Steven Enoch during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. Coach was in the huddle, he said I’ve been playing my butt off the past few minutes, I was getting good shots and good looks, so he said he was going to come to me.”. Brooks said Kentucky's basketball team has had conversations about making a statement, too. The freshman will be returning for his sophomore season with Kentucky next season. “Keion was officially cleared by the doctors today,” UK head coach John Calipari said in a statement. Keion Brooks will not play another game for the University of Kentucky. While he scored a season-high 15 points against Fairleigh Dickinson midway through the season, his biggest performance as a freshman came in the regular season finale in Gainesville last March, where the 6-foot-7 forward finished with 10 points on 4-5 shooting and 2-2 from three to go with three rebounds and two steals in the win. We all must do our part to demand justice and change, and that starts with continuing important discussions with our teams about impacting our own communities. Devin Askew, Kentucky men's basketball guard, responds to a question on how important Keion Brooks' leadership is for the team. Keion Brooks Jr Officially Signs with Kentucky Keion Brooks Jr is officially a Kentucky Wildcat, his father confirmed to 247 Sports Thursday. University of Kentucky Basketball, Football, and Recruiting news brought to you in the most ridiculous manner possible. “We’re still in the process of getting feedback but we know what we’re going to do as far as coming back,” Brooks said. Kentucky has played seven games in the month of February. Why would you have him make the game-winning play?” Because he was playing good, he was the one that had something going.”, “Growing up hooping, I’m pretty sure that’s what everybody is dreaming of,” Brooks said of Calipari’s trust in him. He wouldn't reveal the details of those plans, but he emphasized that Black athletes will refuse to remain silent in this critical moment. Keion Brooks Jr… I met with him today and it was a little bit emotional. staff like. The House of Blue Wildcat Lair - Football Forum The Depot - FB Recruiting Rupp Rafters The Radar - BB Recruiting The Main Board New posts Search forums What's new New posts Latest activity Thursday evening, Brooks Mr. Brooks is already a leader on these issues as a member of the [SEC Council on Racial Equality and Social Justice]. The group recently requested the change, saying Adolph Rupp's legacy is tied to a history of racism and discrimination. Keion Brooks Jr. led the way with 25 points and 8 rebounds. Brooks Jr. has had a knack for making big shots at the biggest. But with a hectic travel schedule over the last month that has included trips to Hawaii, South Dakota and West Virginia, there has … Fort Wayne North forward Keion Brooks Jr. was one of three five-star recruits on campus for Indiana’s Hoosier Hysteria on Saturday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. He said he's still gathering more information about Rupp but stated that he supports a name change. He also led the team in steals, rebounds and blocks in two games and produced five double-figure scoring efforts. The more Keion Brooks Jr.’s timeline for return is shifted, the more questions regarding his status have popped up, specifically wondering whether there’s more to the story or not. - Duration: 13:13. Five-star forward Keion Brooks Jr. is Indiana’s top remaining recruiting target in the class of 2019. But I see another guy that quit on UK. Kentucky’s Keion Brooks Jr. catches a lob during the Wildcats’ contest vs. Georgia on Jan. 21. Now, the player Calipari trusted most to close out the 2019-20 season is officially back in the rotation for the Wildcats. 10 … squad plays against national powerhouse Oak Hill (Va.) in the Geico national tournament semifinals at 5 p.m.. After wrapping up a top-five recruiting class for Indiana last year, Indiana’s staff immediately focused all attention on a couple of names familiar to those that follow recruiting and those that follow the state: Trayce Jackson-Davis from Center Grove HS and Keion Brooks Jr. who originally played at Fort Wayne North Side but decided to transfer to La Lumiere in La Porte, IN. I would like to see a name change. Five-star prospect Keion Brooks Jr. (Kurt Spitler/HN) At the end of the day though, this was a showcase of premier talent more than anything. News 02/15/2019 8:33 am 2019 Indiana basketball recruiting board: mid … In addition to Indiana, he has offers from all of the big boys including Michigan State, Kentucky and Kansas. "The NABC stands in solidarity with today's actions from NBA, WNBA and MLB players," the group said in a statement this week after multiple leagues followed the NBA's lead and postponed games. This one's been this way for almost 50 years, and it can't change.". Keion Brooks Jr. (12) Forward - 2020-21 NABC Player Development Coalition 2020-21 SEC Council on Racial Equality and Social Justice 2020-21 Student-Athlete Keion Brooks, Jr. to Announce College Decision on March 15 March 3, 2019 Mike Schumann 4 Beware the Ides of Keion? Brooks arrived at Kentucky as a 5-star prospect and the No. Keion Brooks Jr. (12) Forward - 2020-21 NABC Player Development Coalition 2020-21 SEC Council on Racial Equality and Social Justice 2020-21 Student-Athlete The Kentucky Wildcats struggled mightily Sunday in … The freshman will be returning for his sophomore season with Kentucky next season. Now he is! Brooks Jr. is considering Indiana as one of his top schools (Kurt Spitler/HN) Just over a week after five-star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis committed to … More:Humble and hungry Keion Brooks Jr. drawing nationwide interest More: Top-10 forward Matthew Hurt eager to see how IU develops Romeo Langford More: IU … Romeo Langford’s commitment to Indiana on Monday night at New Albany may have seemingly stopped the world for a few minutes, but soon enough, the recruiting cycle continues. "I don't understand the concept of shooting somebody in the back seven times and their back is towards you.". Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics. That's also an attribute Calipari and his. Kentucky sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr. is officially back. We welcome Mr. Brooks, his teammates, Coach Calipari, and his staff to meet with us to educate him and others further about why Rupp's name should be removed from the arena. Public Default . Michigan State was the first national power to recruit Brooks, Jr. seriously. In that span, the 6-foot-7 forward scored 138 total points, had 99 rebounds, totaled 13 blocks, posted 11 steals and had six assists. The game-winner rolled out – and was tipped in by EJ Montgomery for the win – but Calipari said he had the most confidence in the Fort Wayne, IN native to put the Wildcats on top. pic.twitter.com/UFaR07a0fH, — Keion Brooks Jr. (@KeionB_12) January 7, 2021. “Grateful to be back on the floor with my brothers. The longtime IU target instead will join another star-studded UK recruiting class. UK Basketball’s Keion Brooks Jr. medically cleared to return LEXINGTON, Ky. (WYMT) - University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr. has been medically cleared to return to the court, according to a Thursday night release from UK Athletics. Keion Brooks to Return to Kentucky, Forgo 2020 NBA Draft. Someone had to learn a lesson. InTheGymHoops 43,024 views 13:13 Best of Sound FX - … Brooks is a 5-star prospect and is currently ranked the #23 recruit and the #6 small forward of the 2019 class, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Brooks said he's focused on effecting change amid the current climate following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May and the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this month, both from encounters with police. Brooks appeared in all 31 games for the Wildcats during his freshman campaign in 2019-20, including six starts.