May 6, 2010
Rakeem "Rahk" Brookins, a combo guard who attends Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, is the first student-athlete to commit to Siena during the Mitch Buonaguro reign. Brookins has signed an athletics financial aid agreement to receive a basketball scholarship for the Saints after receiving a complete release from a NLI he had signed to attend Tulane University.
Siena had been in hot pursuit of a point guard for the last several months and Brookins was at the top of Buonaguro's list.
"When we heard he was available, we made him a prime target because we felt the need to bring in a point guard," Buonaguro said. "So he fills that need. But the unique thing about him is he can also score, so I'd characterize him as a scoring point guard. He has the ability to make threes, so he adds that dimension."
Brookins was one of just six players named to the Class 4-A Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) All-State Basketball Team this past season after averaging 18.9 points and six assists per game. He was additionally selected the Catholic League MVP and was a First Team All-City selection in Philadelphia. Fellow Siena recruit Trenity Burdine (Reading, Pa./Reading - listed at 6-5, 170) was named to the seven-member PIAA Second Team.
"I liked Siena for three reasons," Brookins told FOX23 by phone recently. "One, they have an excellent business program. Two I'm really comfortable with the team, and three, I really liked the coaching staff and Coach Mitch."
Sophomore guard Kyle Griffin hosted Brookins on his April 23-25 visit to Siena. The two had played against each other scholastically in Philadelphia.
Listed at 5-11 by several sources, Buonaguro noted that Brookins is "a great all-around player." "I think he can do a lot of things well. I think he passes well, he's athletic, he scores."
Buonaguro added that Brookins has played both the point and off guard in the past and he could see time at both spots at Siena.
Commenting on the final remaining scholarship for next season, Buonaguro indicated that he would use it if he and the staff were able to find the right person.
