Pierre Brooks II leaves Michigan State Basketball.
Less than a week after the Spartans ended the season at Sweet 16, the 2021 Michigan Mr. Basketball and the Detroit native announced via Instagram that he plans to join the transfer portal. His father, Pierre Brooks Sr., confirmed the decision to the Free Press.
“I would like to thank MSU for the opportunity to participate in a great program over the past two years. I’ve built a long-lasting relationship with my teammates, coaches and fans and will always be grateful,” the younger Brooks said in a statement to On3.com. “Spartan nation, I am grateful for everything you have done and for all the support you have given me over the past two years. I also want to thank coach Izzo for giving me a chance and giving me the opportunity to play for this amazing university.
“With all of that being said, it’s time for me to start a new chapter in my career.”
The 6’2″, 225-pound swingman Detroit Douglass’ sophomore became a key cog in Tom Izzo’s rotation early in the season, particularly after both Malik Hall and Jaden Akins went down with injuries in mid-November. Brooks averaged 6.8 points in 22 minutes in MSU’s first 13 games, which is 39.2% of his 3 points over that span. In a five-game starting streak, he played 31 minutes and averaged 9.4 points with 4.0 rebounds and one assist, hitting 5 of 11 from beyond the arc.
But after the New Year, with the return of Hall and Akins, Brooks’ minutes and shooting dropped sharply. He averaged just 8.0 minutes, 1.3 points and 0.8 rebounds in the Spartans’ last 16 games of the regular season while making just 17.4% of his 3-point attempts and 22.6 overall % lap. Brooks did not play in the NCAA tournament after losing four minutes in MSU’s Big Ten tournament loss to Ohio State. He missed his only two shots and failed to catch a rebound, while only 18 total minutes in his last five games as a Spartan.
Brooks finished the season averaging 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game, making 33.3% of his shots overall and 32.4% from 3-point range.
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That opens up a scholarship for MSU, where four freshmen — Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr, and Gehrig Normand — are arriving this summer. Izzo kept three scholarships open this season, and Joey Hauser is leaving to pursue a pro future rather than petitioning the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility.
Izzo is also awaiting decisions from guard Tyson Walker and forward Malik Hall on whether they plan to return for a fifth season. Should both return, it would put MSU one below the NCAA limit of 13 scholarships, with Brooks expected to leave.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more about the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.
This article originally appeared on the Detroit Free Press: Michigan State Basketball: Pierre Brooks II on the way to the transfer portal
Source : sports.yahoo.com