Dreams Fuel Desire - Michael Brooker
From 7-15-14
I have always encouraged our young students to "dream as far as they can see! And, if you reach that dream, get a new dream!" DREAMS FUEL DESIRE!! Sometimes, as teachers, we limit youngsters by what WE can do, and not what God has intended for them to be!
Our son, Bob, who was a successful coach in high school for 17 years, saw an "impossible dream come to fruition in the little town of Sandersville, Ga. There was a young boy named Michael Brooker, who had a dream to one day play basketball at North Carolina for the "Tar Heels"!
At a very early age, very seldom did anyone see him without a basketball in his hand. He would often dribble 2 balls to town & back, a distance of 2 miles each way. Occasionally he would take a break at his grandparents' house downtown. People around town always recognized him in his North Carolina blue outfit. He would play in the yard working on his basketball moves, imitating the Tar Heels stars who he had seen on TV. When he entered the ninth grade at Brentwood School, our son, Coach Bob Bradley, immediately realized this 6'3" young guy was a special talent. Bob didn't want to put Michael " into the fire" too early, but after a 6-6 start, his team needed a "spark". In Michael's first full game as a starter, he scored 24 points, and a new "star was born"! He led his team to 20 straight wins, and the success would continue throughout his high school career. His parents, LuAnn & John, recognized early his "Carolina dream", & let him have a full-time job of being the best he could be at his great love for basketball. It was a great thrill the night that Michael's grandparents were in attendance when he scored 54 points to break his Dad's HS scoring record! Prior to his senior year, when I was named to coach the East squad in the National HS East-West All Star game, it was only natural for Bob & his twin brother, Bill, (both HS coaches), to be my assistants. Bob strongly urged & pleaded that his upcoming senior, 6'6" Michael Brooker, be our manager. One practice scrimmage in the Omni, one of our players was hurt, & Michael jumped "into the fray". Michael's talents were ready for "showtime", as they were on display before an array of college coaches there, scouting for players! U. Of Minnesota's coach, Clem Haskins, noticed Michael & said openly, "Who is that guy? I'll offer him a scholarship right now!" Coach Haskins helped Michael get into the 2-week prestigious "5-Star" camp, ---and the secret was out! This Brooker kid could play! Michael's senior year was superb as he had the 2nd longest consecutive free throw streak in high school history--87 straight!! He finished his career with 2,507 points & fielded scholarship offers from all over the country--but not from the one he wanted. Despite his coach's appeal to Dean Smith the consider Michael, North Carolina was not interested. Coach Smith told Bob that he had 3 guards that he had been recruiting for years, & he had no other scholarships available for the Brentwood youngster. After several trips all over the country, Michael had come down to the final week. He would choose between Georgia Tech & Michigan. On Sunday prior to that week's decision, Bob received a call from Coach Smith, saying that the 3 guards had fallen by the wayside, and on Monday he was sending his private jet to Sandersville to pick up Michael, his parents, & his Coach, Bob Bradley. Michael's dream became reality as he was the last player ever recruited by the legendary coach, Dean Smith. He is one of few players to have ever been a part of 3 Final Fours! It was a thrill for Bob, Jan & me, along with his family, to be at the Colorado game in the NCAA Tournament when Dean Smith became the "winningest coach" in college basketball history at that time!
