It has not been a good news year for Michigan basketball, with the current team managing to field the worst in program history over the course of the 2023-24 season. But perhaps the future is much brighter.
The Wolverines have struggled in many regards, but they will be getting some help next year. The maize and blue have two signees in 2024 — longtime commitment Christian Anderson and Grand Rapids (Mich.) Christian Central point guard Durral Brooks. Brooks is a three-star who’s flown somewhat under the radar, but he earned some in-state accolades on Monday as ‘Phat Phat’ was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan.
Brooks, a 6-foot-2 guard, has signed to play basketball at the University of Michigan. He is averaging 27.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game for the Cougars (20-5). His team is still alive in the playoffs. Catholic Central plays Grand Rapids Christian on Tuesday in a Division 2 state quarterfinal game.
He will be the 12th Mr. Basketball winner to attend the University of Michigan and the first since Isaiah Livers in 2017.
Brooks got 512 of the 1,150 first-place votes. Tyler Ode of Saginaw Heritage finished second in the voting, Onsted’s Ayden Davis was third and Zeeland West’s Merritt Alderink was fourth.
If Brooks can follow in Livers’ path, that would bode well for the maize and blue. He is listed as a point guard, as is fellow signee Christian Anderson. Coupled with shooting guard George Washington III, who will be entering his second year, there’s a chance that a the Wolverines can find some momentum in the backcourt.
