The Spring Grove graduate is averaging just under 11 points per game to go with about four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 32 minutes per game. with this group. And he's posting career highs in field goal percentage (41%) and 3-point shooting percentage (36%). 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines had pulled away and led by nine with 23 seconds left. We said, 'You need to be happy with the school. As the Michigan men's basketball team tries to cap its regular season with a rivalry win at Michigan State, it will do so without one of its senior starters, as Eli Brooks has been ruled out for the game by Michigan with an ankle injury. Last season, James Brooks rarely spoke to his youngest son about basketball. Find our latest subscription options and special offers here. Help the York Daily Record continue to provide local sports reporting. 4 Ohio State 92-87 Sunday.In a matchup of teams… He knows there's still plenty of room for improvement. A lot of that was about compartmentalizing and keeping healthy boundaries. 9 Maryland Sunday, Brooks remained even-keeled when talking about his performance this year. "After every game he'd be like, 'You missed two free throws again. Michigan basketball's Juwan Howard did not have an update on Monday morning about the status of Eli Brooks, who left Sunday's loss at Michigan State with a left ankle injury. But speaking after a 13-point loss to No. I would love to hear opinions on if you like the name for a girl or for a boy! Coaching changes are often incredibly stressful for college athletes. But he still has plenty of college basketball left and goals to accomplish with Michigan. I do some readings but not crazy. "But everybody stayed and everybody bought in.". '", More: Eli Brooks determined to play bigger role in Michigan's next postseason run, More: How Spring Grove's Eli Brooks is combating broken nose, sinus infection for Michigan. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl whose brother was on a Zoom call this morning with a kid whose high school’s basketball team watches films of Michigan games and whose uncle’s grandmother’s home healthcare aide saw Brooks slowly trying to walk out of Pizza House in Ann Arbor last night. Brooks hopes to play professionally overseas after he graduates from Michigan. He said he began to assert himself vocally earlier in the season when junior forward Isaiah Livers missed time with an injury. If you would have told me that two years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it. The last push for the NCAA tournaments starts Monday night for our area teams. Spring Grove's Eli Brooks, center, with his parents Kelly, left, and James, right, before before taking the court last summer in front of college coaches and recruiters. NKU’s road to March Madness heads through Indianapolis. "It’s just meditation really. I just believe in some of the practices they do. So while James no longer hesitates to go over games with Eli, he said he tries to keep things positive. So the pair would focus on other topics — food, schoolwork — when they'd see each other or talk over the phone. The Wolverines (18-2, 13-2) looked physically overwhelmed for much of the night, unable to … Guard Eli Brooks led the way for the Wolverines with 11 points, and he was the only player scoring in double figures on a down night for a Michigan team that dished out … He praised Howard for preaching a "family" mindset and keeping the team together throughout the highs and lows of the season. And he said he's enjoyed getting to know former longtime St. Joseph's head coach and new Michigan assistant Phil Martelli, who he called "outgoing, really smart and really witty.". Eli Brooks is another great one to watch this year. "I think the big thing was he needed to be on the court to have success," James said. Brooks has worn a mask since returning to the court after missing just one game. Eli previously had a few tattoos, but he's added more over the past year, including three doves to represent his older brothers, his mom Kelly's name … That factor was one of the things on our checklist. Both he and his father said the biggest difference in his performance this year has been staying on the court long enough to work through any issues. ... UM's Eli Brooks on containing Henry Ford Academy's Trevion Williams. "The only thing he really says anything about is free throws. @hennny11 makes a … 5 days ago. "Because things weren't always going well.". He returned Tuesday and scored seven points. "His presence, we saw how we missed his activity. It's really big on introspection and trying to figure yourself out," Brooks said about Buddhism. After the aforementioned Jan. 16 game, in which Brown replaced the injured Eli Brooks in the starting lineup, Brown needed just 11 to reach 1,000. Eli Brooks #55. While incredibly gracious and welcoming throughout his incredible career at Spring Grove, he was never a "rah-rah" type of player. He said he'd love to play in Spain, which he previously visited with Michigan. 4 seed, The Athletic names Tre Mann SEC Player of the Year for 2021, Iowa State basketball: Steve Prohm points to positives over his time with Cyclones. They bring uncertainty since the new staff didn't recruit any of the players. He then dropped 24 again against North Carolina — a game he called a huge confidence booster — and has reached double digits 13 times in 30 games, with a high of 25 in a loss to Iowa. Zeb Jackson #3. Start the day smarter. Eli Brooks scored 11 points and was the only player in double figures for Michigan. Maryland guard Eric Ayala dribbles as Michigan guards David DeJulius (0) and Zavier Simpson defend during the first half Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. Skylar Gaertner is an actor, known for Ozark (2017), The Ticket (2016) and Daredevil (2015). "As a family, when he picked Michigan we talked about picking more than just a coaching staff," James Brooks said. Thu, Mar 11 “I’m sorry, I don’t have an update for you right now,” Howard said. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Howard was part of Michigan's famous "Fab Five" lineup in the early 1990s and played 19 years in the NBA. Over the past year, he's started meditating on a regular basis. He believes that practice has helped him stay focused and get through his previous struggles on the court. And his biggest fans back home are enjoying watching him. Brooks admitted he contemplated whether he had a future at Michigan this past summer. 3 Michigan held off a late flurry to beat No. Ohio State was forced to foul, and Eli Brooks hit both of his free throws to seal Michigan’s fifth straight win, a run that came around a three-week break due to COVID-19 issues. "It’s been easier just because I felt confident in my role and confident in what I was doing out there.”. Brooks spoke softly throughout an eight-minute interview following Sunday's game against Maryland. Michigan's Isaiah Livers makes a move to the basket as Maryland's Jalen Smith and Darryl Morsell (11) defend at XFINITY Center, March 8, 2020 in College Park, Md. But James also knew that basketball was becoming an increasingly frustrating topic for Eli. Throughout the Maryland game, Brooks huddled up his teammates numerous times to disperse advice. Senior guard Eli Brooks was the lone Wolverine to score in double figures and finished with 11 points for Michigan (18-2, 13-2 Big Ten), which lost … Still, there has to be a reason for any player to remain on the court if they're not scoring, and Brooks' reason has been his defense. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: 'He's our anchor:' How Spring Grove's Eli Brooks revived his Michigan basketball career, Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Derek Chauvin trial begins: What you should know, Instagram recommendation algorithms are pushing anti-vaxx and QAnon posts, NGO report says, Spring Grove's Eli Brooks hoping to lead another Michigan postseason run. The 6-foot-1 guard has more than doubled his point total from his first two seasons this year. Iowa State basketball: What does the future hold for Cyclones coach Steve Prohm? He struggled with his shot in each of the last two years, and when he spent time on the bench because of that, his confidence suffered. Michigan's David DeJulius shoots over Maryland's Darryl Morsell during the first half Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. Michigan's Naz Hillmon named Big Ten player of the year | Brad Galli has more, Best & Worst Refi Mortgage Companies of 2021, Price Alert: These SUVs Are Now Only $19,000 (Deal Of The Day). Michigan opened the game on a 7-0 run following a 3-pointer from Eli Brooks, but shortly after MSU’s Aaron Henry went to work. Adrien Nunez #0. Eli Brooks scored 11 points and was the only player in double figures for Michigan. Check out some of our favorite child stars, including Jennifer Love Hewitt and more. It could just be X (senior guard Zavier Simpson) all the time," Eli said. Howard added he was surprised Brooks was not getting more award nominations or accolades for his defense. So many, in fact, that they joined an exclusive club following Saturday's 73-57 triumph at Indiana by recording their 100th career victory. Ohio State was forced to foul, and Eli Brooks hit both of his free throws to seal Michigan's fifth straight win, a run that came around a three-week break due to COVID-19 issues. Rico Ozuna-Harrison #14. Eli Brooks Jeremy - Age 10 . "There had to be another voice. Brooks sat at a blue-clothed table on Nov. 9 with his mom, Kelly, to his right and dad and boys’ head coach, James, to his left. Eli previously had a few tattoos, but he's added more over the past year, including three doves to represent his older brothers, his mom Kelly's name in Korean because one of his brother's speaks the language, and the words "live" and "life" on each of his legs. Luke Wilson #32. Information on Purchasing This Movie. Eli Brooks scored 11 points and was the only player in double figures for Michigan. But he's remained a presence in the Wolverines lineup regardless. Regardless, the younger Brooks has clearly made major strides in a college career that saw more personal downs than ups his first two years. 100 students took the trip to Asheville, North Carolina to will the Bears to a victory in the conference championship game. He's also had a number of games with just two or four points. NICJR (257), ‘Ozark’: Bruce Davison Joins Season 4 Of Netflix Series As Recurring, Golden Globes Final Predictions: Best TV Series (Drama) – ‘The Crown’ Is The One to Beat, Golden Globes Predictions: Best TV Series (Drama) – ‘The Crown’ May Retake the Throne. He’s a great example of the importance of upperclassmen. 6:00 AM PST Brandon Wade #4. Michigan should still make the NCAA Tournament, though likely as a lower seed than the past two seasons. And if something changes, was he just going to run to the next school? "I think that was a big motivation of mine to be able to help the team on the court instead of just cheering.". Link your DIRECTV account to Movies Anywhere to enjoy your digital collections in one place. After not starting a game his sophomore year, Eli has been in Michigan basketball's starting five every game this season, except for one he missed due to injury. In a matchup of teams aiming for No. "We talked about could he see himself living there and the academics. And he knew that his son was getting enough basketball talk on a daily basis, anyway. But it hasn't prevented him from becoming a leader. While the Michigan basketball team waits to return from their 14-day COVID-19 pause ordered by the state health department, a pair of teammates are lobbying for point guard Eli Brooks to be considered in the defensive player of the year conversation. Eli, however, somewhat disputes this notion. But the one everybody notices is the big tattoo of Buddha on his left shoulder. The Wolverines (18-2, 13-2) looked physically overwhelmed for much of the night, unable to create good shots against the Illinois defense and unable to keep the Illini off the boards. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. 7:32 AM PST Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Michigan guard Franz Wagner reacts after making a 3-pointer during the first half as Maryland guard Eric Ayala looks on Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone. "I think everybody doubted (their future) a little bit because it was unknown," Brooks said. It had more to do with departure of longtime Wolverines head coach John Beilein than it did with his lack of playing time the last two years. And seeing the ball going in when it's live against people and not just in workouts.". "He's our anchor," Howard said in the postgame news conference that night. Alex Bruhanski Lewis . ', "As it turned out, they found a great option (in Howard) so it turned out to be a win-win.". Michigan coach Juwan Howard reacts during the first half against Maryland on Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. He missed Michigan's game against Wisconsin on Feb. 27 with a broken nose suffered the previous contest, and Howard called his defensive absence "huge" following a seven-point loss. More: How Michigan basketball's Eli Brooks is combating broken nose, sinus infection. At the beginning of the year I was shooting like 66%," said Eli, who's now up to 73% from the charity stripe. That hasn't changed during his college career. Regardless, he's enjoying himself on the court now. They face Rutgers in the first round of the conference tournament at noon Thursday in Chicago. Here are the current special offers for new subscribers. The Wolverines (18-2, 13-2) looked physically overwhelmed for much of the night, unable to … Livers said reaching such a milestone was never on his radar when his first arrived in Ann Arbor four years ago. Jim Harbaugh threw footballs for ChadTough Foundation donations, including one to his mom, Jackie. Mike Smith #12. The 7-foot-2 freshman center served as a catalyst in Wolverines' statement victory, supplying 11 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks. James Brooks admitted he's not a big tattoo guy. After spending most of the summer after his freshman year back home in Spring Grove, Eli stayed at Michigan this past summer to train and get to know the new coaching staff. Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He's also found strength by talking to family members and friends from high school, including former Spring Grove baseball player Brandyn "Buzz" Schuchart. Michigan's Franz Wagner shoots over Maryland's Eric Ayala during the first half Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. It’s no B.S. It helps.”. The Wolverines went 19-12 in the regular season and finished ninth in the brutally tough Big Ten. Maryland guard Eric Ayala goes to the basket vs. Michigan forward Isaiah Livers during the first half Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. Michigan guard Zavier Simpson dribbles during the first half against Maryland on Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. The coaching staff has done a really good job of that. Michigan trailed 57-56 when Dickinson got the offensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer from Eli Brooks and found Livers, who sank a 3-pointer with 2:48 left. He scored 24 points on opening night against Appalachian State, then didn't score more than 10 the next four games. 4 Ohio State 92-87 Sunday. Michigan guard Eli Brooks makes a move to the basket as Maryland guard Anthony Cowan Jr. defends during the first half Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. To be a driving force behind another Wolverines postseason run. Brooks had 17 points, Chaundee Brown Jr. came off the bench to score 15 and Isaiah Livers added 12 for Michigan, which snapped Ohio State’s seven-game win streak. "And to go through failure but still be trusted to come through. Eli Brooks missed that game with a foot injury. On Eli Brooks' injury “Yeah, he lost a tooth.” ... Now, I gotta give mom and dad credit. Brooks said he wouldn't call himself a Buddhist, but he's studied aspects of the religion since his sophomore year of high school. Eli Brooks determined to play bigger role in Michigan's next postseason run, How Spring Grove's Eli Brooks is combating broken nose, sinus infection for Michigan, How Michigan basketball's Eli Brooks is combating broken nose, sinus infection, 'Everyone's 0-0': Michigan basketball turns the page to postseason, fixing defensive woes, Here are the current special offers for new subscribers, 'He's our anchor:' How Spring Grove's Eli Brooks revived his Michigan basketball career. James knew that Eli Brooks, then a sophomore at the University of Michigan, needed to be listening to his college coaches and not his former high school ones. But it was a potential situation Brooks had talked about with his parents when looking at schools a few years ago. More: 'Everyone's 0-0': Michigan basketball turns the page to postseason, fixing defensive woes. I used to be so concerned about him being down on himself.". We missed his energy, being able to guard guys, attention to detail when it comes to the scouting report. He knows he could be more consistent on offense.