With the graduation of Octavius Ellis and Coreontae DeBerry last spring, a major priority for Mick Cronin when putting together the 2016 recruiting class was finding front court contributors who could pound in the paint, if not immediately, in the near future. While Gary Clark will continue to man the paint this season, reinforcements are clearly needed.
That brings us meanderingly to Nysier Brooks, a 6’11" center and true freshman who joins the ranks of the Cincinnati Bearcats this season.
Brooks was a three-star recruit out of Burlington, Jew Jersey. He was ranked the No. 213 recruit in the country by 247Sports and the No. 26 prospect at his position and No. 9 in New Jersey.
During the 2015-16 season, Brooks, who was born in Philadelphia, played for Advanced Prep International in Dallas where he recorded about 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. He played for Life Center Academy prior to API and put up roughly 14 points and 12 rebounds (as well as four blocks) per game in 2014-15.
Brooks, who turned down offers from St. John’s, Seton Hall and South Carolina, is the type of long and athletic big man that thrives in UC’s system. He projects as a player who will eat on the glass and send opposing shot attempts into the stands more often than not.
After being ruled academically eligible over the summer, Brooks’ role this season still isn’t totally clear or guaranteed, but he will certainly be competing for a spot in the rotation, especially on a UC team without a ton of height. After all, Kyle Washington (6’9") is the next tallest player on the roster.