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UNC Basketball: Garrison Brooks makes decision on senior season

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 11: Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels plays during a game against the Clemson Tigers on January 11, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 76-79 in overtime. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 11: Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels plays during a game against the Clemson Tigers on January 11, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 76-79 in overtime. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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Junior UNC basketball standout Garrison Brooks announces his intent to return to Chapel Hill for his final season of eligibility

University of North Carolina junior power forward Garrison Brooks announced on Friday night his decision to return to Chapel Hill in 2020 for his final season of college eligibility. Brooks’ choice to forgo the NBA Draft and come back to school for his senior season was first reported by Jonathan Alexander of The News and Observer.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Brooks averaged 16.8 points and a team-best 8.5 boards per game last season. 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.

With Brooks returning to North Carolina for his senior season, the Tar Heels will have arguably the strongest front court in the nation. He joins sophomore center Armando Bacot, and two 5-star freshman bigs in Day’Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler.

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