UNC Basketball: 5 reasons the Tar Heels will be better in 2020

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 21: Jalen Hill #24 of the UCLA Bruins and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels scramble for the ball during the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Tar Heels defeated the Bruins 74-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Garrison Brooks will be All-ACC

The lone bright spot of the Tar Heels’ abysmal season is junior forward Garrison Brooks. He has been the perfect example of someone who thrives off experience, and growing as your career goes on. As a freshman, Brooks averaged just 4.5 points per game, while not making a major impact on the glass, either. Brooks’ sophomore season showed tremendous improvement, though, and came with increased production in just about every statistical category.

The biggest leap for Brooks has come in his third year at UNC. He’s now averaging a near double-double with 14.4 points per game and 9.2 rebounds. His strides have been incredible, to say the least. If someone told you they predicted three years ago that Garrison Brooks would score 35 points in a game during his junior year, they’re probably lying.

Brooks has erupted into the most efficient and reliable piece of this team; now and moving forward. The expected success of next year’s Tar Heel team starts and ends with Brooks, and luckily for North Carolina fans, another leap from the big man is likely.

Having a senior leader with three years of experience under his belt entering next season is crucial. Experience like Brooks’ is rare in the college game today, especially for the top-tier programs. Expect Brooks to lead the talented youth around him, and for much of the Tar Heels’ success to rest on his shoulders.

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