A native of
Irving, Texas, Brooks attended
Euless Trinity High School in
Euless, Texas prior to enrolling at
North Lake College as a freshman in 2005. He played junior college basketball for two seasons. In his first year, he played a supporting role as North Lake won the
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III national championship. Although the team did not repeat as national champions in 2006–07, Brooks had a starting role as their point guard. He drew the attention of
Alabama State University head coach
Lewis Jackson, and after his junior college career ended Brooks headed to ASU to play for the
Hornets. In
2007–08, Brooks' junior year, he played in 31 games and averaged 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. On March 8, 2008, in a game against
Jackson State, he recorded a school record 20 assists. This total is tied for the third-highest single game total in
NCAA Division I men's basketball history. By winning the
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), they were able to participate in the
2008 NIT but would go on to lose in the first round. In his senior season in
2008–09, Brooks averaged 13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. He was named the
SWAC Player of the Year after guiding the Hornets to a berth in the
2009 NCAA Tournament. They participated in the "First Four" but lost their play-in game. Aside from being the conference player of the year, Brooks was also honored as an
Associated Press honorable mention All-American. ==Professional==