"Three-Level Fire with a Leader’s Heart"

Brooksten Holok

@BrookstenHolok8

6'3, Class of 2031

Stevenville Lakeshore, US, MI

Brooksten brings an ultra-competitive edge every time he steps on the court. He can attack the rim, score from the middy, and stretch the floor with his shot, giving defenders plenty to think about when the ball reaches his hands. He plays with fierce energy, but there's more to his game than getting baskets. Brooksten wants to lift his teammates, push himself through tough moments, and help his team play with the same fire he brings.

As he prepares for eighth grade, Brooksten has a strong season to build on. In seventh grade, he averaged 20 points, 12 boards, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals per game. His scoring grabbed attention, while his work on the boards and his passing showed how many ways he could help his team. On defense, he could challenge a shot or come away with a steal, giving his team another chance to get moving.

The biggest improvement in Brooksten’s game has been his ball handling. He feels more comfortable with the ball in his hands, which gives him more freedom to get to his spots and make a play for a teammate when the defense closes in. That progress took patience after he suffered a bad ankle sprain during spring AAU basketball. Months of rehab kept him from playing the way he wanted, but he stayed committed to getting healthy and returning to the court.

Brooksten spent the summer with The Herd, a newly formed competitive AAU team out of Rockford. They went 21-4, reached the championship game in all seven tournaments they entered, and won four titles. Those runs gave him the chance to compete in meaningful games with teammates who were building chemistry as they went. He also traveled with a high school team to camps and scrimmages, where bigger, faster players challenged him to make quicker decisions and trust the work he had put into his game.

That work continued away from the crowds. Brooksten focused on his shooting form and his handles during the offseason, then backed it up by lifting weights, jumping rope, working through speed ladders, and getting shots up. Each session helped him prepare for the demands of eighth-grade basketball and the high school game ahead. He wants to raise his vertical, keep developing his skills, and arrive at that next chapter ready to compete.

Brooksten believes his leadership is the most underrated part of his game. Because people notice his size, they may miss how hard he works to keep his teammates going and hold everyone accountable. He refuses to give up on himself, and he wants the players beside him to keep fighting and doing what is best for the team. That voice matters when a game gets difficult, especially from a teammate willing to put in the work he asks of others.

His love for basketball has deep roots in his family. Brooksten’s brother Brayden, who now plays at Albion College, and Brayden’s friends included him in their workouts when he was younger. Watching his brother work and seeing where that dedication led helped Brooksten believe in what he could accomplish through his own commitment. His faith gives that drive an even deeper meaning, as he wants to honor the Lord through the gifts he has been given and the way he carries himself on and off the court.

I assess that Brooksten’s scoring touch gives him several ways to attack a defense, whether he is finishing at the rim, pulling up from the middy, or knocking down a shot from deep. His ability to rebound, find teammates, and make defensive plays gives his team far more than points. With stronger handles and the confidence to use them, he will become an even more dangerous creator when opponents try to take away his first scoring option.

Brooksten has the competitive fire and leadership skills to make a strong impact as he moves toward high school basketball. He brings teammates with him, welcomes the challenge of playing against older athletes, and puts real work into developing his game. His willingness to compete, communicate, and keep building his skills gives him the potential to become a player his team can count on in every part of a game. Stay tuned.