Notebook: Durral Brooks could miss more regular-season games

Grand Rapids Catholic Central guard Durral Brooks has missed three of his last four games due to a sore knee. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Durral Brooks could possibly miss more games before the postseason.

The Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior has tendinitis in his knee and he’s trying to rest it as much as possible.

“He's battling mild tendinitis in his knee,” Catholic Central coach T.J. Meerman said. “And has been playing through pain for most of the season. We sat him for the two games prior to South Christian, and the swelling went down.”

Brooks missed two games and then played against South Christian on Friday, Feb. 2. He scored 30 points in a 58-46 win. But he sat out the next day when the Cougars played Lima Senior High School out of Ohio.

“The doctors recommended as much rest as possible,” Meerman said. “And they've asked him to stop his explosive dunks in the games. This hasn't been easy on (Brooks) as he's the ultimate competitor and wants to compete in every game and practice. His and our two goals are to be able to play in the state playoffs, and for him to be healthy when he leaves for Michigan in a few months.”

Brooks has committed to play at the University of Michigan. So not playing against Lima Senior was tough since its coach is Quincey Simpson. His son Zavier Simpson was a standout guard for the Wolverines. That’s one of the reasons they made the trip to Grand Rapids, to play against Brooks.

“Missing more (games) will depend on his condition,” Meerman said. “His doctors told us back-to-back games are tough. So that's why he unselfishly chose to play against South, a top in-state team we're competing for a league title with, instead of Lima on Saturday. I want to thank Lima's coach Simpson, whose son had a great career at U of M, for supporting the decision to do what's right for (Brooks) and his future when everyone in the gym wanted to see him play.”

Brooks is averaging 25 points per game.  Catholic Central (10-4) has eight regular-season games remaining as of Feb. 6.

NOTEBOOK

CALVIN CHRISTIAN: Matthew Elderkin returned to action last week. The senior forward had missed almost the entire season so far with an injured foot. He has committed to Grand Valley State.

FOREST HILLS CENTRAL: Senior guard Brady Miller has committed to play basketball at Hope College.

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN: Jaylan Ouwinga was named West Michigan Ballers Player of the Week last week The Grand Rapids Christian senior had a monster game of 21 points and 7 rebounds in a 60-51 win over Muskegon on Feb. 2. He also had 14 points and 4 rebounds against Greenville and 11 points and 9 rebounds against Grandville.

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN: Senior forward Carter Goodyke has committed to play basketball at Hope College. 

HOLLAND CHRISTIAN: Luke Bushouse, a 6-foot-5 senior forward on the basketball team, has committed to play football at Calvin University.

NORTHVIEW: Junior Brady Swartz got offers from Grand Valley State and Western Michigan University. He also scored a career-high 35 points against Ann Arbor Huron on Feb. 3. He’s averaging 20.2 points per game. For the full story, click here.

POTTER’S HOUSE CHRISTIAN: Senior guard Aaron Leedy scored a career-high 38 points in a win over Muskegon Orchard View on Feb. 5. 

UNITY CHRISTIAN: Jake Chapman took an official visit to Western Michigan University to check out the football team. Chapman, who is a forward on the basketball team, plays tight end for the Crusaders’ football team. He recently returned to the basketball team after he suffered heart failure in late September. 

UNITY CHRISTIAN: Hugo VanderWaal, a 6-foot-4 forward on the basketball team, has committed to play football at Calvin University. 

WELLSPRING PREP: Senior Zeek Jackson has committed to play basketball at Grand Rapids Community College. The guard is averaging 30 points per game. He’s had games of 46 points and 48 points, both school records. For a full story on his big games, click here.

WEST CATHOLIC: Senior Jeremiah Jones got an offer to play basketball from Kuyper College.

WEST MICHIGAN AVIATION ACADEMY: Senior guard Luke Riebel scored his 1,000th career point on Jan. 26 against Tri-Unity Christian. He holds the school record for career points. Riebel has committed to play basketball at Calvin University. 

WYOMING: Freshman guard Brayden Williams is done for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee. He’s one of the top freshmen in West Michigan and averaged 10 points per game for the Wolves’ varsity team.