After five years defined by leadership, growth and success, Eli Brooks’ career at the University of Michigan has finally come to a close.
The Professor — a nickname bestowed upon Brooks by current head basketball coach Juwan Howard — has quietly gone about his business in Ann Arbor since 2017. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine a Michigan basketball team without Brooks on it.
As a freshman, Brooks faced a steep learning curve being only one of three freshmen in the latest cycle, joining an experienced team coming off a Sweet 16 appearance.
Brooks was the less heralded of the two freshman guards entering an experienced backcourt rotation featuring two seniors (Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Jaaron Simmons), one transfer junior (Charles Matthews), two sophomores (Zavier Simpson, Ibi Watson), and fellow freshman Jordan Poole.