SoCalHoops Recruiting News

It's Official: Brandon Brooks Signs
LOI With Arizona State--(Apr. 19, 2000)

We've been waiting for this signing to be officially acknowledged by Arizona State, and since Brandon Brooks (6'-0" Sr. PG) from Portland Jefferson just faxed his signed Letter of Intent today, we'd say that the Sun Devils are right on top of this.  Here's the official press release:

ASU Men's Hoops ASU Men's Hoops Inks Oregon Prep Standout Brandon Brooks
Guard led Jefferson High School to state title in senior season

April 19, 2000 

Tempe, Ariz. - The Arizona State men's basketball program has signed Portland, Ore., prep standout Brandon Brooks (Jefferson High School) to a National Letter of Intent. The 6-0 guard, who will join the Sun Devil roster next fall and led his team to the state title in his senior season, averaged 20.5 points, 6.6 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.6 rebounds per game while leading his nationally ranked team to a 28-0 record. 

Clark Francis of The Hoop Scoop has him as No. 22 in the nation and the top Pac-10 recruit in the country. CBS Sportsline also has him as the 22nd-best recruit in the nation and the seventh-best point guard. 

"Brandon Brooks is a tremendous recruit for us for a number of reasons," says Evans. "He has the ability to help us right away in our backcourt and as a point guard makes players around him better. He plays both ends of the floor very well. He can score and can penetrate and he will be a top guard in the Pac-10." 

Brooks was the MVP of the Northwest Shootout, the annual All-Star game that pits high school stars from Oregon against stars from Washington. The Oregon team dominated, winning 127-96, led by Brooks, who finished with 28 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. Other players who participated were Brian Morrison (North Carolina), C.J. Massingale (Washington), Luke Jackson (Oregon) and Blake Stepp (Gonzaga). Brooks also had 14 points and a game-leading eight assists Saturday (April 15) in the Dada Classic All-Star game in Los Angeles. 

Brooks averaged 19 points, six rebounds, 11 assists and five steals per contest in his junior season (1998-99). 

"What has been most pleasant for me as a head coach is the way our young players have recruited other players," says Evans. "Brandon felt comfortable with the team and the direction of the program. Those were two of his main reasons for choosing Arizona State." 

Arizona State will return nine lettermen from last year's 19-13 team which was 10-8 in the Pac-10 Conference and tied for fourth with Sweet Sixteen participant UCLA. ASU had six true freshmen on its roster and will also add 6-11 sophomore Tyson Johnston to its roster. Johnston redshirted this past season after transferring from Utah and will have three years of eligibility remaining. 

ASU signed Phoenix prep products Jonathan Howard (Brophy Prep) and Darryl Isaac (Peoria) in the fall. Howard is listed as the 68th-best prospect in the nation according to Hoop Scoop.  The spring signing period runs until May 15, 2000.

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