Aric Embraces the Big A’s – Academics and Athletics

Ron Bailey, Publisher

July 12, 2006 – St. Frances Academy, a venerable educational institution on Baltimore’s East Side has long been known for putting students and players in college. Aric Brooks, a senior St. Frances forward hailing from B’more’s Northern Parkway area is a young man that can firmly be considered both athlete and scholar.

The 6’6”, 190lb Brooks, though young, is a basketball lifer – his mom jokes and says he has been playing since “10 months” of age. In terms of organized hoops, Aric started playing “around five years old”.

Having previously played both forward positions, Aric is presently concentrating on small forward, which is preparation for college: Possessing good all-around fundamentals, competitiveness, and decent size, the three is where he will play in the future. Last season for St. Frances, Brooks indicated he averaged “about 13 points and eight rebounds”, which earned him honorable mention All-Met (Baltimore) honors.

During the Triple Threat Shootout this spring, he indicated books carry as much weight in his life as hoops. “I try and keep honor roll grades, above a 3.0 (GPA)” said Brooks, as his mother “is not having it” any other way.

Reached via telephone, his mom, Ms. Rose Brooks confirmed her high academic expectations for Aric. “Nothing less than a 3.0 GPA” is acceptable, she said. “I’m happy with the basketball, but I really stress the academics”.

He also is challenged and nurtured by the nuns and teachers at St. Frances. “It’s real disciplined. It’s a good environment” said Aric. “If you are looking for a place where people really care about how your grades are and you are really committed to getting good grades, than that’s the place for you”.

Aric Brooks, plays AAU/travel team ball for Team Melo, while during the school year attend's B'More's St. Frances Academy. He's a multi-purpose forward, who has garnered a number of scholarhips and looks.

Ms. Brooks also remarked “Hopefully, he will receive a college scholarship”. It looks like her desire has been granted, as after registering yesterday with his AAU/travel team, Team Melo, at the prestigious Nike Peach Jam tournament, Aric shared a considerable college list. “Tulane is at the top, with Ball State second, and Siena third” he said. Towson, Marist, and Loyola round out the group. The schools that have presently tendered firm offers are “Ball State, Towson, Marist, and Loyola”. Brooks will commit sometime during his senior year, though is in no rush, given his desire to “make a good decision”.

The school he chooses will have a number of factors in its favor, including “playing time”, and boasting a hoops tradition, while there also has to be congruence between the prospective coaches’ playing style, and Brooks’. Additionally, “Location is not a big factor”, while conference affiliation will be taken into account.

On the hardwood, Aric is a slasher that can hit the open jumper, while also attacking a defense with his back to the basket. He values versatility, as he revealed it “Allows me to keep my defender off balance”. Along those lines, Brooks is working on his “face up footwork and ball handling”. The latter is something “Coach (Williams) Wells (the dean of Baltimore Catholic League coaches) at St. Frances stresses”.

On the extremely talent-laden Team Melo squad, Brooks accepts his job. “On this team, I’m a role player” he said. “Sometimes I come off the bench, sometimes I start”.

According to him, his specific function “Is to keep playing hard”, as “everybody knows I’m not going to be the first option on this team, so I keep playing good defense, and I hustle”.

Brooks is another St. Frances success story in the making – the young man is hustling on the court, and in the books. Check back with i95Ballerz.com for updates on Aric’s recruitment and progress.

Brooks, shown here taking a break between games at the Triple Threat Shootout.