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Hume senior signs with FSCC
HUME, Mo. -- Emily Brooks, a senior from Hume High School, is the first announced signee to the Fort Scott Community College women's basketball program for next season. She finished her high school playing career with 1,035 points, despite devastating injuries to both knees, one of which cut her senior season short.
The latest injury happened on Dec. 4, in the first minute of the Hornets' game versus Appleton City.
"It was 8 seconds into the game and I was dribbling down, breaking the press," Brooks said. "And I stepped to pass and my knee went out."
After that game, Brooks was determined to get back out on the floor and did so, only to add even more to her injury by tearing her meniscus.
"I was kind of discouraged," she said. "I kind of thought maybe I was done."
That wasn't the case, however, as Brooks has made a speedy recovering that appears to be nearly complete. Just this past weekend, Brooks said the jogged all the way through a 5K run/walk and her knee is "doing great."
Monday morning, in front of members of her family, her high school coach and a number of fellow students, Brooks signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Lady Greyhounds of Fort Scott Community College under head coach Katie Reihmann.
"Emily is a tremendous athlete," Reihmann said. "We are more than excited for her to become a member of our Greyhound family here at Fort Scott.
"She is an outstanding point guard and also has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. She takes on any challenge that is given to her and she will make an immediate impact on the team."
Brooks said her decision to attend Fort Scott was based on a number of things. At the top of that list, however, was not only the proximity to home, but Fort Scott's solid academic reputation.
"I want to be close to home and that way, my family can watch me play," Brooks said. "And plus, I hear it's a good college."
Brooks will major in elementary education at Fort Scott. That decision was simply based on her experiences with young children and the prospect of being able to help them.
"I like helping little kids and they respond really well to me," she said. "That's what makes it easy and fun to help them."
Lady Greyhounds finished last season with an overall record of 4-27, 1-13 in conference play. Brooks will join Reihmann's squad next year with high hopes, but those hopes won't necessarily be to dominate the scoring effort as she did throughout her high school days.
In fact, Brooks said she would rather help the team in other ways and contribute to the success of others than to elevate her own scoring total.
"I'd rather have more assists than points," she said. "I'd rather be the girl to pass the ball and get someone open than be a ball hog."
Eric Wade, Nevada Daily Mail Sports Editor, contributed to this report.