Freshman Year Is Paradise for Brooks

Brandon Brooks joined UCLA’s basketball team about a week after being in goal for the Bruin water polo team that won the NCAA championship. He got the added thrill of making his debut with the basketball team in front of family and friends in his home state of Hawaii.

Brooks, a freshman forward, played the final 2 minutes 51 seconds of the blowout victory over Maine in the opener of the Pearl Harbor Classic. Those chances don’t figure to come often, especially with Matt Barnes back and if JaRon Rush returns soon, but Coach Steve Lavin also doesn’t discount the possibility of using Brooks again in a game.

Brooks was named Mr. Basketball in Hawaii last year and was an all-state selection in that sport three times. He originally planned to redshirt in water polo and talked to Steve Spencer, an assistant basketball coach, about coming out. But when an injury to the starting goalie changed those plans, Brooks didn’t worry about basketball until the water polo season ended.

He joined the basketball team in time to practice a couple times and sit on the bench against DePaul. A day later, he went home for the holidays as a member of a nationally ranked basketball team.

“The whole year and the whole basketball season has already been a thrill ride,” Brooks said. “Now it’s just getting better.

“It’s great. It’s a dream come true. It’s wonderful to make the team. It’s as good as it gets.”

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The Bruins used their new alternative uniforms for two of the three games in Hawaii. They are navy blue instead of last season’s black, and have UCLA in script across the front the way the football team has it on their helmets. After the loss to Colorado State on the second day, the Bruins went back to the traditional powder blue with UCLA in block letters on the chest. Conscious of breaking even more with tradition, Lavin has said the new look will never be worn in Pauley Pavilion.