The professional basketball journey of former Tar Heel Garrison Brooks is set to take on a new chapter this upcoming season.
Brooks, who spent four of his five collegiate seasons competing for the UNC basketball program, is set to continue his basketball career in Japan with the Saitama Broncos. He has agreed to a deal with the Broncos for the 2026-2027 season, making it his second season competing in Japan.
Garrison Brooks set to compete in Japan for another season
\ 🏇選手契約合意のお知らせ🏇 /
— さいたまブロンコス【公式】 (@saitamabroncos) July 1, 2026
さいたまブロンコスは、
＃4 ギャリソン・ブルックス 選手と
2026-27シーズンの選手契約（新規）を締結いたしましたのでお知らせします。
▼詳細はこちらhttps://t.co/LPZnA6JQVt pic.twitter.com/MYeZI5r1Ov
Brooks got his first taste of basketball in Japan just a few months back when he signed with the Chiba Jets on March 9. The former Tar Heel played in 25 games in Japan's B League, averaging 6.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while playing 21.5 minutes per contest.
After spending time in the NBA G League, Brooks ventured overseas to Lithuania to gain some valuable professional basketball experience. While the dream for all players is to eventually end up in the NBA, some guys are able to make a long-lasting career playing overseas, something we saw Deon Thompson (among other former Tar Heels) do once their time in Chapel Hill came to a close.
Brooks put together a very strong college career in Chapel Hill, developing into an important starter during his tenure on campus. His best season as a Tar Heel came during the 2019-2020 season (his junior year), one in which he averaged 16.8 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds.
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During that season, UNC struggled as a team, but Brooks was one of the few bright spots. He earned second-team All-ACC honors and was voted the ACC’s Most Improved Player, leading the conference in 18.8 points per game and was second in rebounding (9.0) and field goal percentage (.535) during conference action. In all games, was fourth in the ACC in scoring, fifth in rebounding, and second in field goal percentage.
After his time at UNC came to a close, Brooks wrapped up his college career at Mississippi State. From there, Brooks jumpstarted his professional basketball career, making some of the aforementioned stops before ending up where he is today.
Let's face it: the NBA is a tough league to get into. If you're not playing in the league, most guys go overseas, as the financial aspect is typically better than what you'd see in a league like the G League. There's nothing wrong with playing overseas: in fact, it's impressive to see guys like Brooks continuing to grind toward their goal of doing what they love.
It's great to see him still pursuing his dream, as there certainly is plenty of basketball left in the tank for Garrison Brooks at this point in his career. The hope is that this next stop proves to be a successful one, providing him with an opportunity to enhance his game while showcasing the skills that have gotten him to this point.
If you're keeping tabs on former Tar Heels playing in the pros, make sure you add Garrison Brooks' next stop to your list. Hopefully, Brooks has another successful season and continues adding to his growing professional basketball resume.
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