Malaki Brooks battled injuries for 2 seasons. He's healthy now and Mr. Basketball finalist

Put Malaki Brooks on a basketball court, and he’s the star of the show for Union City.

Brooks, a 6-foot guard, is the point guard for the Golden Tornadoes and can make shots from anywhere. He made seven 3-pointers in a Region 7-1A quarterfinal win Saturday against West Carroll and finished with 38 points.

He's also had multiple 40-point games this year.

His best game came on Feb. 8 against Huntingdon, the day he was announced as a finalist for Mr. Basketball in Class 1A.

Brooks scored 50 points against Huntingdon in Union City's senior night, breaking a single game school record which had previously been 47 points by Antawn Coby set 15 years ago.

“It was real special,” Brooks said. “My mom was going to cry, I know (Coby) was happy to see me finally break his record.”

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Coby is an assistant coach for the Golden Tornadoes and remembered the feeling of the game as it got started.

“He’s flirted with it a few times with some high-scoring games,” Coby said. “This particular night, I passed him on the bench and said, ’48.’ (Scoring) 48 on your senior night after being named a Mr. Basketball finalist doesn't sound bad. He looked at me and said, 'I got you, coach,' then he went out and got 50.”

The high-scoring efforts have been excellent for the Golden Tornadoes and breaking a school record is a memorable achievement. But what makes the scoring output all the more impressive is the fact Brooks has missed almost a full season due to injuries.

Brooks fractured his wrist in his sophomore season and broke his ankle in his junior season. He missed two months and 16 games because of the ankle.

While working to let the ankle injury heal, Brooks was always around the gym and came back late in the season to lead the Tornadoes to the sectional game, a 53-45 loss to Giles County.

“He’s deserving of all the accolades that come his way,” said Union City coach Shane Sisco. “He’s persevered over the last two years. … It goes to show that when you persevere, you continue to work at it, good things come your way.”