City of Basketball Love

Will Slover (@WillSlover31)
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Countless great basketball talents have hailed from the cherished halls of Mater Dei High School (Cali.).

From 2015 first-rounder Stanley Johnson and the eight former NBA players that called the Southern California powerhouse home, to Gary McKnight, California’s winningest high school basketball coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame nominee; the La Salle Explorers hope to have found the next great Santa Ana product in Miles Brookins.

The 6-foot 10-inch, 205 pound big man will bring his versatile skillset across the country and look to join an Explorers front court that will boast an abundance of experience next year, headed by seniors-to-be Tony Washington, Demetrius Henry, and Yevgen Sakhniuk and also sophomore Cian Sullivan will play a big role as well.

Joining this experienced crew, under the direction of 13th-year head coach John Giannini will only help the California native adjust to life on and off the court out on the east coast.

Brookins, who is a part of a Mater Dei program that has won their last 23 league titles and has sent nine players to the NBA, including 2015 lottery pick Stanley Johnson, wasn’t sold on La Salle until his official visit this past weekend, the first official visit that he took.

“It was really nice,” said Brookins, via cell-phone. “They have a lot of history and I thought that the players and coaches were great and they seemed family-oriented.”

Brookins chose to join the blue and gold over Boston University, Pepperdine University and The University of Hawaii, among others.

Shortly after his arrival on campus, Brookins knew that La Salle was the place for him.

“I would say after the night of just going through everything,” said Brookins. “Meeting the coaches and the players and hanging out with them, I knew it was going to be a good fit for me.”

Although he averaged just 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game as a junior on a Mater Dei team filled with Division I talent, Brookins takes the last three seasons at the Southern California powerhouse as motivation for the future.

“As a junior, I was coming off the bench and I was the backup to Michael Cage (Oregon) and I just came in and whatever the coaches told me to do, I just went in there and did it,” said Brookins. “I wanted to play like everybody else, but I think that me staying there helped me develop as a player and get stronger in the weight room and win a championship with all of the other players.”

After learning behind a high Division I talent for three years, Brookins is ready to bring what he learned in high school and take it to the big stage.

“All three years I’ve been playing against Michael Cage and he’s at Oregon right now. Going up against him has helped me develop and learn a lot of new tricks in the post and stuff like that,” said Brookins.

He added, "(Giannini) told me I would be able to come in and help the team out, so I wouldn’t be redshirting and he knows that I can play three different positions.”

La Salle, who is considered by many to be one of the most improved teams in college basketball this season, will look to Brookins to join their core of younger players and be ready to help La Salle rejoin the ranks among the Atlantic 10’s finest.

Brookins is up to the challenge, as he knows he has a lot to prove after not seeing the court as much as he’d have liked to in his high school career.

“I would say (my goal) is more improving in college,” said Brookins. “Getting ready and being prepared for college and showing what I can do.”

After proving himself and showing he’s ready to take on the ranks of Division I big men during his senior year, Brookins will fly across the country and look to prove the same thing in Tom Gola Arena next summer.