Charles City standout returns to offer free athletic training services

Terrell Brooks (left) gives dribbling instructions to academy participants Ryan Christian (foreground) and Darrick Tyler.

Andre' Jones photo

As a standout athlete during the late 1990s, Charles City native Terrell Brooks admitted that he didn’t know his true potential coming out of high school. But nearly two decades later and a wealth of knowledge, Brooks is looking to pass his life lessons to up-and-coming student athletes by offering sporting services that not many kids in his hometown have access to.

The Brooks Basketball Academy started out as a one-week camp experience in 2015 through Charles City Parks and Recreation. With the initial feedback reaping positive results, Brooks began concocting a plan to make it a place for athletes to hone their skills not only on the court, but in life.

“It’s about building a better student-athlete,” Brooks commented during a Tuesday evening interview. “Growing up in Charles City, we all know there isn’t a lot of things here to do.

“I wanted to give the kids something to do after school,” he continued. “I also wanted them to get a firm understanding that it’s not just about sports, but balancing and learning life lessons.”

Traveling four hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, Brooks held his first day of the academy the week after Easter. With upwards of 30 kids, Brooks sat down with them and explained his expectations.

“I told them that this camp is more than just basketball,” he commented. “We have at least an hour of study hall and to do homework.”

Brooks’ motivation to start the academy is driven from his personal experiences and eyewitness accounts from living in Charlotte.

“I always had the strong belief in giving back to the community,” he said. “In Charlotte, those kids are playing basketball or the sport that they love year-round.”

Another factor playing a vital role for the former standout to start the camp is to allow quality basketball training for free.

“Not many parents don’t have the means to afford a personal trainer,” Brooks said. “They can cost about $50 an hour. I wanted to give these kids the training and opportunities to get better.”

And so, Brooks launched his free training sessions. Brooks would commute to and from Charlotte to provide those on court skills. With his job relocating him to Richmond within the next month, he is looking to reach out to more student-athletes through the lessons he is providing at the Ruthville gymnasium.

“I wish someone would have provided me the opportunity for this type of training and invest that time with me,” Brooks reflected. “All I want is to give these kids that chance in this type of environment.

“A lot of places like this [Charles City] go unnoticed because we are so small,” he continued. “The talent is here just like it is anywhere.”

Brooks formulated the idea when his brother, Chris Brown, was a high school athlete in the mid-2000s. During that time, Brooks served as an assistant coach on the high school basketball team.

“I saw my brother coming up in this environment and I wanted to do something to make him better,” the Charles City alum said. “Now, I want to do what’s best for the kids.

“I want Charles City and this academy to be the base of what makes a student-athlete,” Brooks said as he wrapped up the interview. “There are a lot of elementary words that we use that include discipline, structure, teamwork, repetition, and fundamentals; all of which will take you far in life.

“I’m not trying to be a parent, I’m trying to be a mentor to work and support this community,” he concluded.

Brooks Basketball Academy is offering free training and lessons Mondays-Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. for ages 8-18. For more information, contact Charles City Parks and Recreation at 652-1601 or Brooks at 310-1036.