By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
MURFREESBORO – Malaki Brooks wasn’t all that bothered about not winning the Class 1A Mr. Basketball Award.
He has his sights set on a much bigger and better prize.
The Union City senior scoring sensation, who leads the second-ranked Golden Tornadoes’ in virtually every statistical category, finished as a runner-up to Harriman’s Jordan McCullum for the state’s top 1A individual honor in ceremonies this evening at the Murphy Center.
Almost immediately afterward, however, Brooks turned his attention to Wednesday’s state tournament quarterfinal game against No. 7 Chattanooga Prep at 4 p.m.
“That I didn’t get Mr. Basketball doesn’t really concern me…I just want to win the state championship with my team,” Brooks said after Tuesday’s event.
“I will think about this and a lot of other good things that have happened to me during the season later.”
Brooks is nonetheless now part of a short Who’s Who list in Tornado hoop history that includes Stanley Caldwell (1991, 92), Marquis Weddle (2006), M.J. Brown (2007, 08), Marcus DeBerry (2015), and Parker Stewart (2017). Both Caldwell (AA) and Brown (A) were two-time award winners, while Weddle – the program’s all-time leading scorer – was chosen for the Single-A honor in the year he was a finalist.
The award is based on regular-season play. Coaches and select media members from across the state are allowed a vote before a group of nine sports writers and broadcasters representing the different geographic regions determine the finalists and winners.
Brooks is the only player among the three finalists to have his team in the state tournament.
Union City head coach Shane Sisco echoed the thoughts of his star guard regarding any disappointment of not bringing home the elite individual accolade.
“His goal from the end of last year, when we came up short in sectional, was to get us a step further and to this point — and he’s done that,” the veteran Tornado mentor claimed. “Nothing that happened here tonight will affect him as far as trying to lead us to a state championship. He’ll come out here tomorrow and do what he’s done for us for 30-something games this season.”
During the regular season, Brooks averaged 27 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. Those totals included double-figure scoring in every game, including ten contests with 30 or more.
Brooks erupted for 47 points in the Tornadoes’ second meeting against state-ranked (3A) Dyer County – matching the program’s single-game scoring record. In UC’s final regular season game against Huntingdon he broke that mark with 50 points.
The 6-foot guard shot 51.5 percent from 2-point range, 40.7 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, and 81.5 percent from the free-throw line in pre-tournament play.
Brooks has been at his best against UC’s toughest competition, upping his ppg average to 29.9, his rebounds to 7.5, and his steals to 3 in 17 games vs. teams in larger classifications. Nine of his 30-point outings came against that top-quality competition.
He’s elevated his game even further in the postseason, though those performances did not figure in determining the award winner. He’s averaged more than 32 ppg in six outings, scoring 30 or more four times – including 40 against Humboldt in the regional title game thriller.
“He’s led us in so many ways other than just scoring,” Sisco continued. “His basketball acumen speaks for itself. For three years, he’s been first in every drill we’ve done. And when your best player leads by example, it speaks volumes about the young man’s drive, his character, and what kind of teammate he is.
“He does so many things well. We’ve had kids in this program who’ve scored a lot and who’ve shot the 3-pointer well. But Maliki does it all.
“He can stuff the stat sheet as well as anyone we’ve had.”
The other finalists also boasted impressive credentials.
The 6-7 McCullum played for the team that ended the regular season No. 1 in the Associated Press poll and is a Murray State signee. He averaged 28 points, 15 rebounds, seven blocks, and six assists each game while playing both guard and forward.
Like Brooks, McCullum averaged 32 points, 17 rebounds, eight blocks, and seven assists in his team’s eight biggest regular season games.