| Jeff Brooks |
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A finalist for Kentucky Mr. Basketball honors, Brooks, who turned 19 in June, saw action in all 31 games and started 12 in his true-freshman season. A highly skilled perimeter shooter, passer and ball handler with a long and agile 6-8 frame, he worked to build his strength over the summer and added 10 pounds to a frame that features a 6-11 ¾ wing span. Brooks' versatility and perimeter length will be a big asset for the Nittany Lions both offensively and in their full-court trapping defense. He can play either the two, three, or four positions and can put up numbers across every category in the stat sheet. His ability to run the floor and get to the rim fits nicely in the Nittany Lions plan to play a more up-tempo style and he will be a strong candidate to solidify a spot in the starting five.
2007-08 SEASON•FRESHMAN
A starter in 12 games, Brooks played in all 31 on the season and averaged 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game...He started his first career game at the power forward spot in a 74-64 season-opening victory over St. Francis (Pa.) (11/12)...Posted two points and three boards in 18 minutes...Played a team high 24 minutes posting five points, five boards and one assist in a 93-40 win over Canisius (11/16)...Played 28 minutes in a 79-67 loss at St. Joseph's (12/1)...Had a nice all-around game posting six points, four rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist in 14 minutes in a 61-38 win over Princeton (12/12)...Posted a career-high seven rebounds in a 60-39 win over Denver (12/15)...Posted a career-high 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting from the floor and 2-for-2 from three in just 12 minutes in a victory over Lehigh (12/23)...Made his first career three-pointer in the game and had two steals...Scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting in 16 minutes of action in an 80-55 loss to Wisconsin (1/15)...Had a career best game scoring a career-high 12 points (10 in the second half) and grabbing six rebounds in a career high 32 minutes in Penn State's 68-64 overtime upset of No. 17 Indiana (3/9)...Scored four straight points in the second half to help spur a 10-2 run that tied the game at 46-46...Posted a career-high nine rebounds against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament (3/13).
HIGH SCHOOL
Named among the top 100 recruits in the ESPN 150 and given a three star rating by Scout.com....Ranked 57th overall among 2007 recruits by Rob Harrington of USA Today...Tabbed as the No. 2 player in Kentucky and No. 1 player in his region going into his final season, he was finalist for Kentucky Mr. Basketball honors...Earned first team Kentucky all-state honors, first team all-district and region Player-of-the-Year honors as a senior...Averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 4 assists and 1.5 steals in leading Doss to a 23-8 record in his senior campaign...Brooks jumped on the national recruiting scene after a very strong showing on the summer camp and AAU circuit (Derek Smith All-Stars) following his junior year...Named the Camp MVP, All-Star Game MVP, South Division MVP and won the slam dunk championship at the Blue-Chip Camp in Georgetown, Ky....Named the MVP of the Five Star Camp in Pittsburgh...With strong showings at camps in South Carolina, California and the Super-64 Shootout in Las Vegas he became one of the hottest prospects on the national recruiting scene...Named an honorable-mention High School All-American by Street & Smith's...Averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game and earned first team all-district honors in his junior season at Doss after transferring from Shawnee High School were he played his first two seasons...Helped lead Doss to a 23-7 mark, district title and the regional semifinals of the state playoffs...A three-year starter and 1,000-point scorer for his high school career...Developed his perimeter skills as a 6-4 guard before growing into a larger wing following his sophomore season.
PERSONAL
The son of Jeff Brooks, Sr. and Phyllis Brooks...He has a younger brother, Phillip...Born on June 12, 1989...Lists Lebron James and his parents as the people he most admires and is a reader of the Harry Potter series of books.
