Jay Wright: Eli Brooks ‘what we thought he'd be,' praises Michigan

SAN ANTONIO — Over five years ago, Michigan and Villanova were two of the only high major schools recruiting Spring Grove (Pa.) guard Eli Brooks. 

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If you’re going to have just two at the top of the list — well, what a duo. 

John Beilein and Jay Wright were (are) two of the elite coaches in the country, guys known for identifying talent and winners. Michigan offered first, and Beilein hoped to keep it on the down low so others wouldn’t get involved. Villanova, however, was the school close to home. When the Wildcats offered, many — including some closest to him — expected he’d sign with them. 

But Brooks fell in love with Ann Arbor, and he’s been a huge part of the Michigan success, both regular and postseason. He’s played in four straight Sweet 16s, is a captain and leader and much more, having become a key to U-M’s success on both ends of the floor. 

It took a while to get there, and there have been plenty of ups and downs. But he’s exactly the kind of Michigan player Beilein — and yes, Wright — envisioned he’d be, having followed the path both would have expected. 

“I did see him getting this good, and this is what we thought he would be,” Wright said before his team’s Sweet 16 matchup with Michigan. “That’s why we recruited him.

“As I remember it — I’m not always good at this, but he visited our place, and then he told us he was going to take a visit to Michigan and then make his decision. Then he visited Michigan, then he called me and told me he was going to Michigan. That’s what I remember.”

He was great about it, the Brooks’ recalled, and of course has had great success despite losing that battle. In fact, he took Collin Gillespie instead, the straw that stirs the drink for the 2021-22 Wildcats. He averages 16 points per game, shoots 41.6 percent from long range and 90.2 percent from the line. 

Gillespie and Brooks grew up playing against each other and know each other well, setting up a potentially great battle Thursday night.

“Great, great kid. Great family,” Wright said of Brooks. “This is kind of what we thought he’d be. We thought he’d be a four-year guy and a great player and winner, a champion by the time he was done. 

“He’s got such great character, great basketball IQ; brilliant student, and a great competitor. Yeah, it’s a shame we’ve got to go against him because you root for a guy like that.”

Hunter Dickinson a tough matchup for ‘Nova, but Wright is wary of the Michigan guards

He won’t Thursday night, of course. And while all eyes are on Michigan center Hunter Dickinson, who scored 23 points in a win over Tennessee, U-M will need everyone at his best to beat the Wildcats. 

“When you look at it, that’s the obvious difference,” Wright said of Dickinson. “However, I think that Michigan’s guards are really underrated. I think Eli Brooks is one of the best guards in the country. He’s a winner. DeVante’ Jones being in that lineup is really impactful for them. He’s an outstanding player. And I think him being out for a little bit has actually helped Frankie Collins get a lot better.

“So, you’ve got guys like Hunter Dickinson, who’s only a sophomore, but for whatever reason, in my mind, he plays like a senior to me. Eli plays like a senior. Jones is older. But all those younger guys — Caleb Houstan, Terrance Williams coming off the bench, all those guys — because of everything they’ve been through, have gotten better.”

They were without their coach for five games when Juwan Howard was suspended, and both Jones and Dickinson have missed big games. Michigan was a preseason top 10 team for a reason, Wright noted, and now everyone is back healthy. 

“They’re playing their best basketball. These are the teams that advance this time of year,” Wright said of Michigan. “I think they have great depth now. They have great balance. And they’ve learned to play without Hunter Dickinson — then they get him back. Like that one game that [Moussa] Diabate — I think it was Ohio State when Hunter didn’t play -— just went off. Everybody just grew, and then they got to play together here in the tournament, got a couple wins.

“You start to figure it out. It’s all about how you’re playing right now. It doesn’t matter what you did in the season. It’s how you’re playing right now, and I think they’re playing as well as anybody in the country.”

Setting up what should be an outstanding matchup between Michigan and Villanova Thursday night.