10 Questions with ...

Keion Brooks Jr.

BY BART POTTER • FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE

Keion Brooks Jr., the 6-foot-7 forward for the University of Washington basketball team, enters his fifth and final collegiate season as a preseason All-Pac-12 first-team selection.

That’s just another notation on his esteemed resume, which already includes a national championship and recognition among the best players in the country.

Keion won the AAU national championship as an 11-year-old fifth grader. He went on to develop his game to the point where, in 2019 as a senior in basketball-impassioned Indiana, he was among the top recruits in the nation. Brooks elected to play for eight-time national champion Kentucky, playing all 31 games his freshman season, serving as a team captain as a sophomore and averaging 10.8 points his junior year, while starting all 33 games.

The Huskies star’s bio has infinitely more space for even more prestigious entries as he embarks on his final season, his second with Washington. After transferring from Kentucky last season, he averaged 17.7 points per game for the Huskies, third best in the Pac-12. He also averaged 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, earning Pac-12 second team honors.

Brooks has come a long way from Fort Wayne, a city located in northeast Indiana near the Ohio border. His parents, Keion Sr. and Sarita, raised four boys. Keion, the second oldest, “tried to beat my brothers in everything we did, all healthy competitions.”

Keion said his father is his “superhero.” Keion Sr. played at Wright State and graduated as the school’s second alltime leading scorer. He taught his sons the game and coached Brooks’ fifth-grade team all the way to that national title.

“He’s always been my favorite player, and still is,” Keion said of his father.

Keion Jr. now finds himself in the same situation as Keion Sr. was in at Wright State, a senior team leader attempting to guide his squad to the NCAA Tournament. As Keion Jr. says in this 10-question format, “the better I can be, the better the team can be. I’m all about winning. Whatever I can do to help us win. I think we’re going to surprise some people, how well we play together, our talent level.”

Here’s Keion Jr.’s 10-question snapshot for the 2023-24 Huskies.

With strong roots to his family and Hoosierland, Keion Brooks Jr. shows maturity beyond his years as a Husky hardwood mainstay

What stands out for me from your past is, as a fifth grader, your AAU team won the national championship. What’s that all about?

“Growing up, the national AAU tournament was a really big deal. You try to get the best kids in your state (Indiana) and go wherever it’s held. The years before, we’d always finish fourth, couldn’t get over the hump. My dad became the head coach, and we went to Cocoa Beach, Fla., and we won. I played pretty well. They (South Carolina) made a little push at the end, but we never let them come all the way back.’’

Growing up in Fort Wayne (Indiana), was there someone you patterned your game after, either high school, college, or the pros?

“That guy for me was always and will be my dad (Keion Brooks Sr.). My dad was like a superhero for me, and still is. That’s where I get my work ethic from. Even beyond being a basketball player, how he dealt with his kids and teaching us how to be men, taking care of his family. And when it comes to basketball, you couldn’t tell me Michael Jordan was better than my dad. He’s just a natural leader.’’

Indiana is one of America’s most passionate states for college basketball. Did you feel that?

“When you’re in Indiana, you don’t really understand how much people love it, because you’re in it. It’s just how everybody is. You’re just so accustomed to it. Every driveway has a basketball hoop. Everybody’s dribbling up all around, you’re just thinking that’s how everybody is. Indiana is special in how much they (Hoosiers) love basketball.’’

Did you have the opportunity or pressure to play for the Hoosiers?

“I did not feel pressure from anybody, no. My parents always taught me, you are free to do whatever you want. Don’t let any outside pressure try to influence you one way or another. Obviously, Indiana is a prestigious school with a lot of history and a lot of great players went there. I am familiar with the legacy that Indiana basketball has, but at no point was it like, ‘OK, I’m feeling pressure to go to Indiana.’ I had to find the best suit for me. I think I put myself in a good position to make the decision I made (Kentucky).’’

As a sophomore at Kentucky, you were one of just 11 Division I men’s basketball student-athletes selected to serve on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player Development Coalition that provided a perspective and feedback on college basketball issues. How was that two-year term for you?

“Coach Cal (John Calipari) selected me to be part of that coalition. It was about giving players more empowerment. Coach Cal was big on that. We give so much to the university but (sometimes) the players don’t get the recognition that they deserve. Also, basketball is something that we do, it’s not who we are. It’s not our identity. The thing I got out of it the most is once you take the competitiveness element out, you can talk to other athletes, share our thoughts, and see we’re all going through the same stuff.’’

How did you get from Kentucky to Washington?

“I had a previous relationship with Isaiah Stewart back in high school when they (Huskies coaches) were recruiting him. So, I was familiar with Coach Hop (Hopkins) and Coach (Will) Conroy. Then I came here on my visit and fell in love with the place — the people more than anything. The vision that Coach Hop had for me aligned with what I had as a player. So, after that, where do I sign?’’

What do you note as the differences, how the game is played or the atmosphere, between the SEC and the Pac-12?

“The biggest thing is that they are both extremely competitive, well coached, and really good teams. I just think the style of play is different. The SEC is a more explosive conference as far as the athletes are concerned, guys are super-fast, super strong, jumping out of the roof. You’re coming across top tier athletes every single game. Here (in the Pac-12) is more of a faster-paced game, more skill, more free flowing, not as physical. As far as venues or atmosphere, it depends on who’s playing against you and what kind of (successful) team you’re playing at that time.’’

What are your expectations from this season, for yourself and your team? And how much does your leadership and experience, as a preseason Pac-12 first-teamer, figure into those expectations?

“I’m excited. We have a really good team that people are kind of sleeping on a little bit. I’d rather be that way. I’d rather wake some people up and surprise them. My teammates are amazing — really good dudes. The coaching staff is amazing. On a personal level, I just want the team to grow and get better. The better I can be, the better the team can be. I’m all about winning. Whatever I can do to help us win. I think we’re going to surprise some people, how well we play together, our talent level. I’m excited to get it going.’’

You were granted one extra (COVID) season, and this is it. With UDub set to join the Big Ten next season, wouldn’t you love just one more season to be able to play back in that Midwest atmosphere in places such as Indiana?

“I’m ready to go. I’ve done my time in college. But it will be interesting to see how it works out, the travel and all that. They pay people a lot of money to figure that stuff out. That’s not on my plate. I do think it will be interesting. It’ll be new and take some time to get used to. But I think it’ll be cool. You’ll see some matchups that you normally don’t get to see, contrasting styles. Seeing schools from out here (West) going to the Midwest, I think will be really cool.’’

Where do you go from here? What kind of input have you gotten on your prospects of being drafted and playing in the NBA?

“I don’t think about that at all. I’m so locked in on bringing UDub back to a place where people are excited about the possibility of what we can do. So, I haven’t thought too much about my pro career.’