Gabby Brooks, right, with her father and family at Kenny Brooks’ introductory press conference at Kentucky. (Vicky Graff Photo)
One current player knows exactly what to expect from new Kentucky women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks on and off the court.
Redshirt freshman Gabby Brooks is the new UK coach’s youngest daughter. Her older sisters, Kendyl and Chloe, played for their father at Virginia Tech just like Gabby did last year when she redshirted.
“It definitely has some challenges to it, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” said Gabby Brooks. “I love playing for my dad. He’s a great guy. He knows how to separate the two of coach and dad, so I feel like it’s not anything crazy.
“I just feel like one of the girls and I feel like the girls are like my sisters. Everything’s normal.”
At her father’s introductory press conference at UK, Gabby and her family were all smiles in the crowd. She said they are all “very proud” of how hard he works and the results he gets.
‘He puts everything into his job while also balancing his family life. He doesn’t let one overcome another … well family a little bit more but he will always be there for anyone. So just to see him be able to make a transition to be able to be the head coach at Kentucky that was a very proud moment,” Gabby said.
Gabby also played volleyball in high school along with basketball and said she “dabbled” in tennis.
“Basketball was always my main sport but I did like volleyball. I wouldn’t say I was at a Kentucky volleyball level, but I would say I was an average volleyball player,” she laughed and said.
Her favorite part about playing for her father is that even though she does not know what is going to happen, she understands what to expect from the UK coach.
“I never have to guess what the standards are with him,” Gabby said.
The worst part?
“Sometimes he has some interesting outfit choices. The way that he decides to wear his pants specifically is interesting to say the least. He’ll have one pant leg up and one pant leg down and his high socks didn’t really go together the other day. I think his whole goal was to make me feel embarrassed,” she said.
Kentucky has a preseason top 25 team in the Associated Press ratings and a lot of talented guards. That could make playing time difficult for Gabby because even her mother, Chrissy, could not suggest to her husband that he play his daughter.
“My mom has no say in anything basketball-wise,” Gabby said. “But I don’t think I would want her to try and help any way.”
Gabby’s father would put her through workouts when she was younger and admits he sometimes would “get a little bit upset” with her.
“But thinking about it, he was working out a sixth grader after he just worked out his Division I players,” Gabby said. “However, it did help me and I really do like playing for him.”
Like her father, she has enjoyed the move to Lexington and being at Kentucky.
“It’s definitely a bigger school, so that’s been exciting. Going from the ACC to the SEC is very different, so that has been interesting to see how different they are. And the facilities are definitely a nice upgrade and everything that you could ask for,” Gabby said. “Being part of a new team is interesting, too.
“My new responsibility since I’m older is helping the freshmen through things and telling them everything is okay and what they are going through is normal and they are not doing terrible. That is a learning curve for everyone that I can help with because I know what playing for my dad is like.”
She also has a message for Kentucky fans going into the season.
“I think that this year will be super exciting for all the fans and everyone should come see it because it is really going to be fun,” she said.
