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United States Keion Brooks Jr. is a professional basketball player recognized for his collegiate achievements and his transition into the NBA.
Signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans in January, opening the door to a potential call-up to the NBA. He initially signed with the New Orleans Pelicans on an Exhibit 10 contract, then a two-way contract.
Keion Brooks Jr. was born on August 7, 2000, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He began his basketball career at North Side High School, where he averaged 20.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore, leading his team to the Class 4A state title game. For his senior season, Brooks transferred to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana, where he played alongside future NBA player Isaiah Stewart and contributed to a GEICO Nationals runner-up finish. During his senior year, Brooks averaged 20.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and was selected for the Jordan Brand Classic. He was highly regarded as a recruit, committing to the University of Kentucky for college basketball on March 15, 2019, over offers from other prominent programs.
Brooks’ collegiate career began at the University of Kentucky, where as a freshman, he averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game during the 2019-20 season. He experienced a notable increase in performance during his sophomore year, averaging 10.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game through the 2020-21 season, despite missing the first nine games due to a leg injury. A significant milestone occurred on January 29, 2022, when he scored a career-high 27 points against Kansas. For the 2021-22 season, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Following three years at Kentucky, Brooks transferred to the University of Washington. During the 2022-23 season, he averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. In his fifth year of eligibility during the 2023-24 season, he was named to the First Team All-Pac-12, averaging 21.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game.
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Brooks joined the New Orleans Pelicans for the 2024 NBA Summer League. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pelicans on September 24, 2024, but was waived on October 16, 2024. He subsequently joined the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League on October 28, 2024. His career progression continued when he signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on January 9, 2025, which led to his NBA debut on February 5 against the Denver Nuggets. He scored his first 4 career points on February 10, 2025, against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As of the 2024-25 season, he has played 14 games with the Pelicans, averaging 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.
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