Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Brooks Declares For NBA Draft
04/12/17 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
Pac-12 player of the year Dillon Brooks said he's declaring for the draft and hiring an agent, two days after Tyler Dorsey did the same.
When he's done playing basketball, Dillon Brooks said, he'd like to own a house in Eugene, and perhaps work as a coach with his alma mater. He owes the University of Oregon that, he said, for the way the community embraced him, and the way head coach Dana Altman and the men's basketball staff helped him develop.
First, though, there's work to be done at the professional level. Work that will start for Brooks this spring.
Brooks, the 2016-17 Pac-12 player of the year who helped lead Oregon back to its first Final Four since 1939, has elected to forego his final season of collegiate eligibility and enter the NBA Draft pool. Brooks intends to sign with an agent, finalizing his decision to depart.
"I felt like I had a great season, improved my body, improved my game a lot," Brooks said this week. "I feel like I'm ready to make the jump. The time is right."
The announcement by Brooks came two days after sophomore Tyler Dorsey announced that he too was making himself available for the draft and hiring an agent.
Brooks, a native of Mississauga, Ont., joined the Ducks at a fraught time for the program and helped Oregon solidify itself among the national elite. He led the team with 16.7 points and 3.1 assists per game as Oregon reached the 2016 Elite Eight, then averaged a team-high 16.1 points to help the Ducks reach the Final Four earlier this month.
Along the way, Brooks demonstrated a killer instinct, hitting game-winning shots against Tennessee, UCLA and California. He also scored the Ducks' final 12 points in a one-point victory at home over Arizona State late in the season, on the way to earning first-team all-America honors from USA Today and second-team all-America from the Associated Press, The Sporting News, USBWA, NABC and Basketball Times.
Brooks also declared for the draft after his sophomore season, and returned to school after receiving an evaluation from the league. Among the areas for improvement it highlighted, Brooks said, was three-point shooting; a career .338 three-point shooter entering this season, Brooks hit at a .401 clip as a junior, including .443 in conference play.
"I feel like I really added to my game," said Brooks, who leaves as the No. 10 all-time career scorer in UO history, with 1,612 points. "I feel like I 'think the game' more; my basketball IQ is raised. I'm just ready to get out there."
Brooks said his NBA analogs could hopefully include the likes of Chicago's Jimmy Butler, Golden State's Draymond Green or Boston's Jae Crowder. Each stands about 6-foot-6, like Brooks, and fills up the stat sheet while playing dogged defense; none was drafted higher than 30th overall.
"They're now starting and playing well on great teams, and making a lot of money," Brooks said. "It shows everything is possible, regardless of where you go in the draft. It's all about hard work, and when that time comes to step up, I'll be ready."
Brooks said his best memories of Eugene are of the game-winner against UCLA, but also moments off the court such as hikes up Spencer Butte. He said Oregon basketball has meant "everything" to his development.
"One day I want to get a house here and live," Brooks said. "Oregon took me in like a son. Coach Altman, the staff, the managers, they made it easy for me to come out, show my talents and get better. They've treated me so well, and one of these days I'm going to be able to return that."
That sentiment surely goes both ways, for a player who came to Oregon after the difficult offseason of 2014 and helped revitalize the program.
"Not a lot of people here liked basketball," Brooks said. "To change that around and make history, make a Final Four for the first time since 1939, that's the greatest feeling. It feels like leaving on top."
First, though, there's work to be done at the professional level. Work that will start for Brooks this spring.
Brooks, the 2016-17 Pac-12 player of the year who helped lead Oregon back to its first Final Four since 1939, has elected to forego his final season of collegiate eligibility and enter the NBA Draft pool. Brooks intends to sign with an agent, finalizing his decision to depart.
"I felt like I had a great season, improved my body, improved my game a lot," Brooks said this week. "I feel like I'm ready to make the jump. The time is right."
The announcement by Brooks came two days after sophomore Tyler Dorsey announced that he too was making himself available for the draft and hiring an agent.
Brooks, a native of Mississauga, Ont., joined the Ducks at a fraught time for the program and helped Oregon solidify itself among the national elite. He led the team with 16.7 points and 3.1 assists per game as Oregon reached the 2016 Elite Eight, then averaged a team-high 16.1 points to help the Ducks reach the Final Four earlier this month.
Along the way, Brooks demonstrated a killer instinct, hitting game-winning shots against Tennessee, UCLA and California. He also scored the Ducks' final 12 points in a one-point victory at home over Arizona State late in the season, on the way to earning first-team all-America honors from USA Today and second-team all-America from the Associated Press, The Sporting News, USBWA, NABC and Basketball Times.
Brooks also declared for the draft after his sophomore season, and returned to school after receiving an evaluation from the league. Among the areas for improvement it highlighted, Brooks said, was three-point shooting; a career .338 three-point shooter entering this season, Brooks hit at a .401 clip as a junior, including .443 in conference play.
"I feel like I really added to my game," said Brooks, who leaves as the No. 10 all-time career scorer in UO history, with 1,612 points. "I feel like I 'think the game' more; my basketball IQ is raised. I'm just ready to get out there."
Brooks said his NBA analogs could hopefully include the likes of Chicago's Jimmy Butler, Golden State's Draymond Green or Boston's Jae Crowder. Each stands about 6-foot-6, like Brooks, and fills up the stat sheet while playing dogged defense; none was drafted higher than 30th overall.
"They're now starting and playing well on great teams, and making a lot of money," Brooks said. "It shows everything is possible, regardless of where you go in the draft. It's all about hard work, and when that time comes to step up, I'll be ready."
Brooks said his best memories of Eugene are of the game-winner against UCLA, but also moments off the court such as hikes up Spencer Butte. He said Oregon basketball has meant "everything" to his development.
"One day I want to get a house here and live," Brooks said. "Oregon took me in like a son. Coach Altman, the staff, the managers, they made it easy for me to come out, show my talents and get better. They've treated me so well, and one of these days I'm going to be able to return that."
That sentiment surely goes both ways, for a player who came to Oregon after the difficult offseason of 2014 and helped revitalize the program.
"Not a lot of people here liked basketball," Brooks said. "To change that around and make history, make a Final Four for the first time since 1939, that's the greatest feeling. It feels like leaving on top."
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballDana Altman | Postgame vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, February 28
Grateful Ducks | Oregon Basketball
Friday, February 27
Nate Bittle | Postgame vs. Wisconsin
Thursday, February 26
Dana Altman: "The guys felt good."
Tuesday, February 24
