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If you’ve been watching the practice highlights Kentucky has been posting in recent weeks, you may have noticed forward Keion Brooks Jr. was not in them.
On Monday, a school spokesman told The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker that Brooks has an injury that’s been limiting him in practice and workouts. Tucker added this his sources say it’s nothing serious.
If you noticed Keion Brooks wasn’t visible in practice videos UK has tweeted, I asked. Per spokesman:
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) October 19, 2020
“Keion has been limited in team activities recently due to an injury. He’s being treated and evaluated daily.”
I’m told by multiple sources nothing major. Cal practicing hard.
Brooks, who is Kentucky’s only returning player that logged minutes last season, is expected to be the Wildcats’ starting power forward this season, though he’s skilled and versatile enough to play on the wing. The hope is he’s also bulked up enough to be capable of playing the 5 in small-ball lineups when Olivier Sarr is out of he game. Brooks figures to have a heavy workload in what could be his final collegiate season.
In Brooks’ first season, he appeared in 31 games while averaging 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Though his role was limited to just 15.1 minutes per game, he ended the year on a high note, helping Kentucky rally from an 18-point deficit to win at Florida in what was ultimately the final game of the Wildcats’ 2019-20 season. Brooks hit two threes and two driving shots to help UK score the win, and in the process, showed the kind of potential that should have NBA scouts firmly locked into him for the next level.
Hopefully, the Indiana native gets back to fully practicing soon and is good to go when the 2020-21 season tips off. He has the potential to be Kentucky’s latest freshman-to-sophomore breakout star before hearing his name called on draft night.
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