by Mustafa Kocatürk / info@eurohoops.net
Unicaja Malaga had been a part of the biggest stage of European basketball since the 2001-02 season but they are leaving Euroleague and will take a ride in Eurocup next season, trying to get the trophy and the ticket back to Euroleague. The Andalusians have already started shaping their roster and one of their newest addition is versatile big Jeff Brooks from Avtodor Saratov.
Biography
The American forward played college basketball at Penn State and left his mark on his conference during his final year. He was inducted into the “First team Kentucky All-State selection”, however, his impressive final year was not enough for the NBA. He went undrafted in 2011 and took the road to Europe. He started his overseas career in the second division of Italy and made the immediate jump to the upper level with Andrea Trinchieri’s Cantu where he experienced Euroleague’s level of play for the first time. Although Cantu couldn’t advance past the regular season, Brooks was proven to be a valuable player alongside Alex Tyus.
Having numerous athletic Americans around him, he led Juve Caserta team the next season and eventually returned to Euroleague with Dinamo Sassari. Despite the fact that Sassari didn’t make a splash in Euroleague, they won the Italian league championship title and Brooks improved his shooting efficiency (37% from 3pt and %51 from the field). He could have signed with a team on the bigger stage, however, he picked a contract with Avtodor Saratov which is a team that fits Jeff Brook’s style of play, seeking high tempo basketball. It was the right choice for him, he had a bigger role and shined during his tenure in Russia (13.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.4 apg) which paved the way for him to get back to the top level and get signed by Unicaja Malaga.
What he can offer
Jeff Brooks is 2.03 m. tall, a reminiscence of an undersized center at least on terms of athleticism. He is an example of the new generation of bigs, who can put the ball on the floor. He has the motor of an explosive player which makes him a big threat around the rim. Having played for teams that prioritize fast-paced offensive game, he has sharpened his game and developed into an all-round player.
His biggest limitation can be pinpointed at perimeter shooting. Although he is not a bad shooter, he is hesitant to shoot from long range, something that can be an issue for a stretch-four. Additionally, he has not been a member of a unit that excels in half court basketball and produce most of its score through set plays. The teams he has played are embracing the individual quality and encourage players to set out their own roles according to the skill-level they have. This might be the reason why more organized teams with bigger ambitions have avoided him. It is inevitable to define his Malaga experience as a “challenge” for Jeff Brooks in terms of adaptation to a different basketball culture.
Him as a Malaga player
Joan Plaza’s Malaga has long been known as having strict half-court rules with players required to stay under their roles and execute defined set plays. Will Thomas for example, who served greatly to the organization the past two years, is also an average shooting stretch-four who can play both ends of the floor. However, he needs much less time with the ball on his hands and does not really need an uptempo basketball style to demonstrate his strengths. Considering the fact that Jeff Brooks will replace him at Malaga, the expectations are high. Still he is a different player who demands different circumstances on the floor. Unsurprisingly though, he might establish himself in Malaga with the skill-set he has and carve out a role that he can take initiatives on offense.
Although Jeff Brooks’ adaptation to Malaga’s culture is a subject to curiosity, the player is ready to take the challenge and create even more buzz in Europe about him.