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Nysier Brooks, a transfer from Cincinnati, has the potential to be one of the most important newcomers for the Miami Hurricanes this season. He’ll be an impact player on the defensive end of the floor, having averaged 1.5 blocks per game in his last season at Cincinnati, which ranked third in the AAC.
The addition of Brooks for both depth and talent came at a good time for Miami’s frontcourt, which is still trying to find a way to replace the loss of Sam Waardenburg to a season-ending injury. Brooks allows Miami to be flexible with personnel near the basket and should provide a level of rim protection and interior defense that was not available on Miami’s roster last season.
Brooks is also a leader, “I try to be a glue guy,” he says, remarking that “guys can trust what I say,” and that he can deal with a lot of different personalities cause he grew up in a big family. Miami’s team could use that leadership this season as a several new personnel groupings and rotations will need to gel early on in the season.
Brooks’ leadership transfers onto the court, “he’s very vocal, which will help us defensively,” Jim Larrañaga said, remarking further that his communication will further help the defense. Coach Larrañaga thinks Brooks will make an impact on both ends of the court, and should provide much needed depth for a long ACC season.
In his last season at Cincinnati, Brooks started all 35 games for the Bearcats. He averaged 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 22.9 minutes per game. As an excellent rebounder on both ends of the court, Brooks should help out a Miami team that ranked in the bottom half of the conference in every rebounding statistic, including second to last in rebounding margin.
“He’s the kind of guy every good team has,” Kameron McGusty says, “he’s the energizer.” As a player who can help the team mesh on and off the court Brooks’ impact for Miami may be just as important off the court as it is on it. The flexibility he adds to the roster, and the defense impact he can make, especially with the struggles Miami has had there over the last few years, could help the Hurricanes be one of the most improved teams in the conference this season.
Brooks and the rest of the Hurricanes will see just how much they’ve improved this weekend. Miami takes the court for the first time November 29 against North Florida.