FORK UNION, VA – Fork Union Military Academy proudly announces that JaVon "Hap" Brooks, a member of the Postgraduate Basketball program, has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his basketball career at the collegiate level.
Brooks, a 6-foot-3 guard from Chesterfield, Virginia, has committed to Belmont Abbey College, an NCAA Division II program located just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.
"They say it takes a village to raise a young man, and that's especially true here at Fork Union Military Academy," said head coach Bob Williams. "Everyone plays a role in shaping these young men's futures. We first met Hap over three years ago and had been hoping to bring him to Fork Union ever since. As fate would have it, while we were playing at Hargrave last year, we saw him on their varsity team. We encouraged him to apply to Fork Union and join our postgraduate program for his senior year and here we are. His final game of the season was against Hargrave, and he saved his best for last. He played unbelievably well in front of a crowd of college coaches. We're thrilled to see him take the next step in his journey at Belmont Abbey College."
This season, Brooks averaged 10.1 points per game while shooting 44.3% from the field, 38.3% from three-point range, and 65.3% from the free-throw line. He also contributed 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, totaling 110 assists on the season.
"First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming out today," said Brooks. "This journey has been a long one, and like Coach Bob always says, 'stay patient.' I want to thank my mom for all the sacrifices she's made for me. I don't know where I'd be without her. I also want to thank my dad. Even though he's not here physically, he's always with me.
"Coach Bob, thank you for being a father figure in my life. You've impacted me more than you know. You've been one of the best additions to my life, and without you, I wouldn't be playing at the next level. To Dr. Jasper, Coach Lake, Coach Hines, Mrs. Patrick, and Coach Blake—thank you all, I appreciate you so much. To Coach Rich, Macon, and Witten, thank you for letting me join you in the gym every Thursday—those moments meant a lot. And lastly, to D3 Delta—thank you. I never expected to become so close with the lacrosse bros, but I love you guys."
Brooks was joined at the signing ceremony by his mother, Telica Brooks, and many fellow cadets and faculty members.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported my son along the way," said Ms. Brooks. "I'm especially grateful to Coach Bob and Mrs. Elizabeth for guiding him through this journey into the next chapter of his life. This is such a proud and emotional moment. Thank you all, and may God continue to bless each of you."
Congratulations to JaVon "Hap" Brooks and his family on this exciting next step in his basketball career!
