Kentucky Basketball: Keion Brooks, Jr. living out a basketball dream

His family has played a big part for Brooks, Jr.

When talking to Keion, one thing that immediately jumps out is that he is an extremely family-driven young man. His dad, Keion Sr. played college ball at Wright State, his mom Sarita, brothers Darrion who himself is a rising star in the class of 2023, Darrius and Karion were some of the first people he talked about.

When I asked him about early memories involving basketball, he told me a camp he attended with his dad, he said, “My earliest basketball memory is going to a father-son camp with my dad. We played against the dads, and my dad didn’t let me score.”

His family came up again when I asked him about the people who have had the biggest influence on him, “When I was younger my mom and my dad were huge influences and also my late grandfather who I do it for every time I step on the court. As I got older, I still do it for them, but that morphed into doing it (playing) for my younger brothers.” It says a lot about a young man who plays basketball at such a high level when asked about influences to not mention once anyone that currently plays the game.

His grandparents have always been a big part of his life, helping shape the man he would become. A man that wasn’t always basketball-focused growing up.