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ACC Basketball: Garrison Brooks remaining at UNC, Justin Turner recruiting news

By Daniel Benjamin

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Garrison Brooks #15, Leaky Black #1 and Anthony Harris #0 of the North Carolina Tar Heels walk back on the court after a timeout in their game against the UCLA Bruins during the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Tar Heels defeated the Bruins 74-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Garrison Brooks #15, Leaky Black #1 and Anthony Harris #0 of the North Carolina Tar Heels walk back on the court after a timeout in their game against the UCLA Bruins during the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Tar Heels defeated the Bruins 74-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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ACC Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 25: Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

This edition of the ACC Basketball Notebook will look at Garrison Brooks returning to UNC, Clemson’s Aamir Simms looking at his NBA draft prospectives, and Louisville being eliminated from contention by Justin Turner among other items.

While the North Carolina Tar Heels await Cole Anthony’s decision on whether he stays or goes — to the NBA — they received good news on April 3 as Garrison Brooks’ mother and step-father announced that the 6-9 power forward was returning to Chapel Hill for his senior campaign.

Brooks had considered entering his name in the draft with the option of returning, like Clemson forward Aamir Simms did a few days ago. The Alabama native produced the best season of his collegiate career and was named the ACC’s Most Improved Player as well as selected second-team all-conference as he averaged16.8 points per game, and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 53.5 percent from the floor. Brooks produced 11 double-doubles and scored in double-figures in 26 of 32 appearances, topping the 25-point plateau on seven occasions.

Brooks didn’t get a lot of help this past season as Anthony missed 11 games, and Brandon Robinson missed nine contests. Plus, top 2019 recruit Armando Bacot was inconsistent, and fellow freshmen Anthony Harris and Jeremiah Francis each lost over half of the season due to injury. Brooks should have a lot more help this upcoming year even without Anthony. Bacot will return and hopefully, Harris, as well as Francis, will be healthy for the entire season.

Coach Roy Williams also brought in 247Sports’ No. 3 2020 recruiting class with three five-star recruits including a pair of big men in Day’Ron Sharpe and Walter Kessler along with 6-3 point guard Caleb Love. Puff Johnson and RJ Davis fill out the Tar Heels recruiting class. Carolina currently has 15 players on scholarship, meaning that Williams has some roster purging to do particularly if Anthony remains with the club.