Who is Pelicans new signee and former Kentucky Wildcat Keion Brooks?

The NBA offseason is quickly drawing to a close, with training camp set to tip off right around the corner in the beginning of October. While some teams have had their rosters and staffs set for weeks now, others are still busy tinkering in the margins. The New Orleans Pelicans have been firmly in the latter group.

Recently, the Pellies made two additions to their coaching staff, adding NBA veterans Jodie Meeks and Greg Monroe to their bench. New Orleans has also made some on-court moves, as well, having signed three additional players on Tuesday, September 24.

While the official details of these acquisitions have yet to be declared, it's official that Izaiah Brockington, Keion Brooks Jr., and Galen Robinson Jr. were each given deals with the Pelicans ahead of training camp. Considering that New Orleans already has 15 players on the roster, not counting their three two-way contracts, and has already waived Galen Robinson Jr. to make room for newest signee, Jalen Crutcher, these players won't likely make the regular season roster. But, they could have an opportunity to prove themselves in training camp, whether that be for the Pelicans next season, down the line, or even with a different NBA team.

Who is Keion Brooks?

Keion Brooks had a long and decorated collegiate career. He started off his journey as a blue blood, playing for John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats between 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons. Then, he transferred to the Washington Cougars, including a fifth-year senior season.

He started off as a high-motor, high-intensity utility player for the Wildcats. He was far from an effective offensive player in his early days at Kentucky but earned trust and minutes from Calipari due to his effort, defense, and versatility. By his sophomore year, he had a more well-rounded offensive game and a larger role at UK.

He made his money on offense with his midrange game and attacking the rim, using his upper-echelon athleticism and relentless energy to consistently put pressure on the paint. His offensive development followed him to Washington, where he was able to expand his game and output in a more featured role.

In his 2023-24 campaign with the Cougars, Brooks averaged over 21 points per game, leading the Pac-12 in scoring and earning a conference first-team selection. He also showcased a much-improved outside stroke. Before his final season at Washington, he never shot over 29 percent from beyond the arc. In his fifth year, he stroked over 38 percent of his triples on over four attempts per game.

If his 3-point shooting from his final season is legitimate, with his combination of size, physicality, and motor, Brooks has a real chance to stick in the NBA. We'll see if he can carve out a niche with the New Orleans Pelicans in training camp.