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UNC Basketball 2019-20 Player Review: Garrison Brooks

By Blake Cockrum

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 07: Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels shoots in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on December 7, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 07: Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels shoots in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on December 7, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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We continue our UNC basketball player season in review series with All-ACC performer, and starting power forward Garrison Brooks.

Justin Pierce | Jeremiah Francis | Anthony Harris | Brandon Huffman | Andrew Platek | Christian Keeling | Leaky Black | Armando Bacot | Cole Anthony | Walker Miller

Garrison Brooks returned to Chapel Hill in the fall of 2019 intent on improving greatly from his sophomore to junior season. And like so many Roy Williams-coached bigs of the past, he did just that.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward from Lafayette, Alabama averaged just 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game a season ago, but showed tremendous promise, both from an offensive and defensive standpoint. He returned for his penultimate season to average 16.8 points and a team-best 8.5 boards per game. He shot better than 53 percent from the floor, and even knocked down the first two three-pointers of his collegiate career. He also averaged career-bests in assists (2.0) and minutes per game (34.9), while starting 31 of 32 games on the season.

He recorded an offensive rating of 115.0 for the season, while scoring 27.5 points and pulling down 13.9 rebounds per 100 possessions. He was even better in conference play when he had an offensive rating of 117.3, while averaging 30 points and 14.3 boards per 100.

Brooks put together a dozen double-doubles as a junior, and six in a row during a three-week stretch in January. He scored 20 or more points on 12 occasions, and poured in at least 25 points seven times. He scored a career-high 35 points to go along with 11 rebounds in an early January loss to Georgia Tech. He hit 9-of-18 shots against the Yellow Jackets, and an outstanding 17-of-18 at the free throw line. At the conclusion of the season, he was named to the second team All-ACC squad, and recognized as the ACC’s Most Improved Player.

Brooks is expected to return to North Carolina next season as the Tar Heels’ leading scorer and emotional leader on the court and in the locker room. He should be a preseason first team All-ACC selection, and a heavy favorite to win ACC Player of the Year in his final season of college eligibility.

dark. Next. This 5-star UNC target is as good as gone

Stick with Keeping It Heel throughout our player season in review series, and everything UNC basketball.

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