Nysier Brooks Season in Review

The Numbers

• 2.4 points per game (11.3 per 40 minutes)
• 1.6 rebounds (7.6)
• 0.7 blocks per game (3.2)
• .528 field goal percentage

Overall, it was a very solid freshman season for Brooks. The 6’11” center from Philadelphia showed remarkable chemistry with Justin Jenifer and the second unit, and made himself a formidable defensive presence in the paint. He played his role to perfection every game, and rarely made bad decisions.

The Best of the Best

Nov. 23 vs. Samford

The Bearcats found themselves in a battle with Samford, leading just 35-30 at halftime. Kyle Washington was in foul trouble, and Samford had one of the top rebounders in the country in Wyatt Walker. Brooks stepped up big, scoring a season-high 10 points, and adding four rebounds, three blocks and a steal to help Cincinnati pull away in the second half for a 70-55 victory.

For Next Year

Brooks and fellow freshman big man Tre Scott know their roles. For one more year they are backing up two of the most dynamic bigs in the country. After that, they will likely become the starting frontcourt of the 2018-19 Cincinnati Bearcats. Neither player has established themselves as significantly better than the other on the offensive end, but that might not be of concern to a team with so many shooters.

Good teams need players like Brooks in order to be successful. He’s a defense-and-rebound-first type of player that works as an enforcer on the interior. He’ll continue to embrace that role next year, and likely play about the same number of minutes. The key to a successful sophomore season for Brooks won’t be what happens on game day, but instead what happens in practice. Another season of competing against Gary Clark and Kyle Washington in practice every day can only make him better.