Spring Grove's Eli Brooks commits to Michigan
Eli Brooks verbally committed to play basketball at the University of Michigan, the soon-to-be Spring Grove senior confirmed Tuesday night.
Brooks, a 6-foot-1, 170 pound guard, averaged 25 points per game last season, registered 67 assists on the year and led the YAIAA with 79 3-pointers. He led the Rockets to their first league championship since 1971.
"I had feeling that if Michigan was gonna offer, I was gonna take it.," Brooks said. "When I visited, I really got a good feeling about campus and about the coaching staff. I had a lot of interest. I talked to a lot of people about Michigan and I heard a lot of good things about the university."
The Wolverines have made the NCAA Tournament six of the last eight years under coach John Beilein. In 2013, they made it to the national championship game and lost to Louisville.
The school is located in Ann Arbor, Mich. and plays in the Big Ten Conference.
Brooks said he like the community feel surrounding the basketball program.
"It's a big school, but it feels small," Brooks said. "I liked that the basketball team isn't treated like superstars, they're treated like regular people."
He added that Beilein showed him the depth chart and where he could fit in with the team, and that playing time for all players needs to be earned. He also said that living so far away from home - Ann Arbor is 501 miles from Spring Grove - will take an adjustment period.
Prior to Tuesday, Brooks had received offers from Villanova, Ohio State, North Carolina State, Kansas State and George Mason.