Keion Brooks had 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting but his leadership meant even more to Kentucky. (SEC Photo)
Just how valuable could sophomore Keion Brooks be to Kentucky? Well consider this stretch early in the second half of Saturday’s 76-58 win at Florida.
Brooks made a great entry pass to Olivier Sarr for an easy score. On UK’s next possession, Brooks got a dunk off a nifty pass from Brandon Boston. Next trip, Brooks scored off an assist from Sarr. Then it was Brooks’ turn to dish the ball to Davion Mintz for another score at the rim.
Four easy scores for UK in less than three minutes and Brooks was part of all four plays. And then about two minutes later he threw his body on the floor scrambling for a loose ball, a little thing UK had been missing in many games this year.
In his first game since UK’s 18-point comeback win at Florida last March, the sophomore had 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in 24 minutes. Not bad for a player who had not been through a contact practice this season because of a left leg injury until Thursday and admitted after the game it was his first time on the court with some players.
“He is a leader by example. He is not a confrontational guy. You see the type of athlete he is. You see he is way stronger (than last year). Way more patient mentally. The game has slowed down for him,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said after the game.
Brooks does give UK an athletic presence who can do a little bit of everything and always does it with a full motor. However, Calipari knows what he likes that Brooks does more than anything else.
“How about he calms them down on the court so he takes it (pressure) off our staff?” Calipari said. “He is a special young man, great human being, great teammate and skilled basketball player.”
Guard Davion Mintz, who had 13 points and three assists, said he was “speechless” over what Brooks added.
“You watched the game. You saw it,” Mintz said when asked about Brooks’ impact. “He gave us a whole different element. It was amazing.
“He has been having good practices and not to discredit his practices, but nothing like this game. He turned to a different switch. We knew he would play well but not have the impact he did.”
Brooks was not surprised by the impact he made.
“I have always believed in my ability to come back and play well,” the 6-9 sophomore said.
He said it felt good to get out and play with a “whole bunch of guys I have not played with before” and get a win.
But those “guys” Brooks played with were a new bunch, too. There was better passing (18 assists) and ball movement. There was better shooting (6-for-13 on 3’s, 12-for-13 at the foul line, 29-for 52 overall). There were way more floor burns and bodies on the floor for UK than in any game this season.
Maybe it was just a coincidence that all happened with Brooks back playing but I don’t think so. The team respects and follows what he does.
“I just try to bring energy and hopefully my energy is infectious,” Brooks said. “They (the players) did a great job sticking with me the whole time I was hurt. I didn’t want to let them down by not playing to their standard and not having as much energy as they have. My leadership was dependent on them and them allowing me to be a leader tonight.”
