If the biggest question mark regarding Aaron Brooks’ NBA potential is his ability to be a true point guard – which seems to be the consensus concern among NBA scouts – that’s certainly alright with him.
“I think I definitely am the NBA prototypical point guard,” Brooks said in a telephone interview from Orlando, Fla. where he attended the NBA Pre-Draft Camp. “Oregon needed me to score. That’s what they asked me to do, and that’s what I did. I’ve played point guard all my life, and I’m willing to show I can do it.
“If that’s the only reason why they wouldn’t draft me, then I feel great because I know I can do that.”
Brooks, who led the Pac-10 in scoring at 17.7 points per game and led the Ducks to the Elite Eight in his final season, spent the majority of last week and some of this week in front of NBA scouts and general managers, hoping to improve his stock in this month’s NBA draft.
Players participating in the camp went through individual workouts, physical tests, interviews, informative seminars, and were assigned to a team for scrimmages.
Brooks had a fairly impressive showing overall, averaging 9.7 points (9-of-20 shooting overall, 2-of-6 from three-point range) and had 3.7 assists per game, according to statistics compiled by multiple sources. His team, which included Boston College’s Jared Dudley and North Carolina’s Reyshawn Terry, went 2-1. Brooks scored 10 points in his team’s first game and showed his versatility with six rebounds, five assists and only two turnovers. Though he struggled in the second game, by shooting 2-for-6, he managed four assists and then scored 14 in his final game.
“I know everybody came here a little bit nervous, playing in front of some of the legends I’ve seen in the stands watching,” Brooks said. “I think Michael Jordan was there the first day. Everybody’s a little bit nervous, but you get the jitters out and it just comes down to basketball. Overall, it’s been a great experience. I’ve really enjoyed myself.
“I’m just trying to show I can run the team, and I’m a point guard, not a small two guard. I think they understand that by now.”
Most mock drafts and analysts’ projections have Brooks landing somewhere in the second round. The draft is held on June 28.
“Anything’s possible with the draft, you never know,” Brooks said. “Regardless of where you get picked at, if you produce and you show you’ve got game, it doesn’t really matter where I end up at. As long as I get drafted, I feel like I can play on any NBA team.”
As for a preference where he goes?
“Not at all,” Brooks said. “I don’t think I’m in position to be having preferences right now. I’ll be happy wherever I’m at.”
Brooks now has one-hour workouts with 13 different teams in 19 days. He’ll work out with Miami, Phoenix, New York, Orlando, Houston, Boston, Seattle and Portland, among others.
“I’m going to be pretty busy,” Brooks said. “I’ve got to go from city to city. But I’m excited, I’m conditioned and ready to turn some heads.”
He’s certainly caught the attention of former teammate Luke Jackson, now with the Toronto Raptors.
“A couple years ago, I wouldn’t have thought Aaron could be an NBA player, but he got so much better,” Jackson said. “I really think in the right situation in the NBA, Aaron could be really successful. He would struggle with a team that plays slower. If he could get on a team that wants to run and play fast, get up and down, he’d be good at that because he’s just so fast.
“He would fit in Toronto. He really would. It will be interesting to see where he goes. I hope he goes really high, hopefully he can sneak into the first round and get that guaranteed money.”
Brooks said he’ll just be relieved to have the process over, no matter where he goes.
“It’s been nerve-wracking,” Brooks said. “There are a lot of ups and downs. There’s a lot of waiting around. Your future is in somebody else’s hands right now. You can’t really do anything about it. That’s probably the hardest thing.”
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