Kentucky Basketball might hire a Baylor coach after all, and he has a connection to Billy Gillispie

Posted by Admin April 22, 2024 Basketball

Remember when Scott Drew turned down the Kentucky Wildcats to remain with the Baylor Bears?

Well, Kentucky may hire a Baylor coach after all.

On Monday, Mark Pope announced the hirings of Cody Fueger and Jason Hart to his coaching staff. That leaves just one of the three primary assistant coaching roles unfilled, and it sounds like we have a candidate for it.

Per The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker, Baylor associate head coach Alvin Brooks III is in the running to be on Pope’s staff.

Hearing Baylor associate HC Alvin Brooks III, whose father was director of basketball ops at Kentucky under Billy Gillispie, could be a name to watch for Mark Pope’s staff. Brooks would be a big-time get for UK.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 22, 2024

The 44-year-old Brooks just completed his eighth season with the Bears after previously working at Kansas State (2012-16), Sam Houston State (2010-12) and Bradley (2007-10). He was part of the staff that brought home Baylor its first national championship in program history.

As Tucker alluded to, Brooks’ father, Alvin Brooks, worked as the director of operations at Kentucky from 2007-09 under then-head coach Billy Gillispie.

According to 247 Sports, Brooks was the lead recruiter for 5-star recruits VJ Edgecombe, Keyonte George, and Ja’Kobe Walter. Getting that caliber of players to Baylor is no small feat, so it’s easy to see why he’s a well-regarded name in the coaching ranks.

Come on down?