Four-star recruit Garrison Brooks commits to North Carolina

With Justin Jackson heading off to the NBA and Tony Bradley’s status on the same still uncertain, the Tar Heels picked up a big man for their incoming class late Friday night. According to Inside Carolina, Garrison Brooks has committed to North Carolina.

Roy Williams and company were scheduled to make the trip to Brooks’ hometown of Auburn, Alabama on Wednesday before a last minute change of plans. Ultimately, that trip didn’t happen, but it seems as though the scare was nothing to be concerned with.

Brooks originally selected Mississippi State, where his father is an assistant coach, over the Tar Heels back in November. The Bulldogs granted Brooks a release from his National Letter of Intent on April 11th. Brooks originally said his request for release was denied by the school before getting his wish in the end.

The Tar Heels remained interested in the post player’s services, and his mother was pretty vocal about her desire to see her son in Carolina blue. Brooks grew up a fan of Carolina, and maybe that proved to be more of a deciding factor than the school that employs his father in the end. Brooks chose UNC over offers from Kansas, Iowa State, SMU, and Purdue.

Should Bradley decide to head off to the NBA after just one season in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels would be hurting for depth down low. The addition of Brooks certainly helps mitigate the loss of Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks, as well as the potential loss of Bradley. He’ll be joining fellow incoming freshmen Brandon Huffman and Sterling Manley in the post, as well as incoming guards Jalek Felton and Andrew Platek. Kevin Knox could be another addition, maybe, whenever that situation gets sorted out.

In the mean time, it’s definitely good news for the defending national champions, who could make another Final Four run next season if everything breaks right for them. Having Brooks on board definitely helps the cause.