Prospect Spotlight: Brooke Littrell (2020)
One of Missouri’s top small school players, Green City 2020 Brooke Littrell is poised for a big senior season after a strong offseason with the Missouri Phenom. At 6’1, Littrell has terrific size and athleticism who has scored 2,230 points…
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Continue ReadingOne of Missouri’s top small school players, Green City 2020 Brooke Littrell is poised for a big senior season after a strong offseason with the Missouri Phenom.
At 6’1, Littrell has terrific size and athleticism who has scored 2,230 points and 944 career rebounds entering her senior season. Growing up a farm in rural Missouri, Littrell says she brings a strong work ethic to the court.
“I’m a farm kid and have been carrying feed buckets and wrestling hogs around since I was little,” she says. “If a 700-pound boar doesn’t intimidate me, nothing else will. I pride myself on being very difficult to Coach against. I play guard or in the post. If they put a guard on me, I’ll move to post her up, if its a post type player, I’ll make her come out and guard me. It’s hard to find just one girl to guard me, and I work extremely hard to make sure of that.
“I shoot a really high percentage from beyond the three to try and stretch the floor but prefer to make my threes the old fashioned way with the “and one!” It’s honestly just more fun to get in there and beat around.”
Littrell averaged 30.9 points and 10.8 rebounds last season for a Class 1 team that went 19-4 and advanced to the state quarterfinals.
“Although it wasn’t enough to get our team where we wanted to be. Im looking forward to this year and hoping we can accomplish our goals of a final four appearance,” Littrell said. “The girls I play with are my best friends, we win it all or go down together.
“This season is really exciting for me. We only lost one senior, and although she was a great player, we have someone stepping into her spot who is great as well. We are playing fast and in great shape. In June we started running three miles several times a week as a team then working out afterward. At this point for us as a team, anything less than a final four will be a disappointment.”
After a strong summer running with the Missouri Phenom and played for coaches Dennis Baggett, Devin Griffin, Nikki Kuchta and Greg Logsdon and says the experience helped prepare her for the upcoming season and beyond.
“Coach Possail has also really helped me along the way,” Littrell says. “I have had some amazing Coaches who have pushed me and my game to new levels all the time. Summer ball really helps me adjust and play better during the season. During High School ball I almost always see a box and one or even a triangle and two. Most coaches don’t do that during the summer it really helps me work on my game.”
Littrell says Devin Fields, coach Green City Cody Moore, trainer Matt Ayers, coach Logsdon from the Phenom, and others have all had the biggest impact on her basketball career to date.
“Throughout my basketball career I’ve had so many people believe in me and help me,” she says. “My friend Devin Fields, who plays for Truman State, has pushed me since I was a little kid. His Father is one of my Coaches and has always inspired me and held me to a very high standard. Last year he never stopped helping me even though he was battling cancer. He never missed a game or a practice.
“I have also been blessed to have Cody Moore every year as my high school coach. Not very many players are able for that to happen and I think that has been a huge part in our success as a team. He has helped in a lot of ways and we were able to have a great connection on and off the court. Matt Ayers has trained me for several years now. He lives on a farm down the road from us. He was a Coach at the collegiate level and transformed my game dramatically. Coach Logsdon from the Phenom has been one of my biggest fans and just fills me with confidence and teaches me all the little things. He has been a huge, huge part of any of my success. And finally, my parents. All the travel, driving countless hours, the time sitting in a gym. It’s more than I can ever be thankful enough for.”
A fan of former NBA players Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Akeem Olajuwon.
“I have been trying to copy Birds swagger and confidence for years, and Jordans “you will never beat me” stare, along with his approach to the game,” she says. “Dirks fadeaway is a work in progress for me but Im getting it down enough to start using it in a game, and my Dream Shake isn’t too bad. Ive been using it in practice quite a bit so I can try and use it more often in a game.”
Littrell recently committed to the University of Central Missouri.
“ I know the coaches there can lead me through the experience of the next level and help me adjust and be successful,” she said. “UCM is already a very good team. I just hope that I can contribute to that in some way as much as I possibly can. I know it will be a whole new world and I’m ready for the challenge.”