A ‘breakout’ year: How NC State guard Zoe Brooks is finding her stride as a sophomore
On a team full of players with similar personalities and interests, N.C. State’s Zoe Brooks stands out. She’s charming, fun and full of energy.
And, she’s all over the place — mentally and physically — regularly goofing off and never staying still. Days are never boring when Brooks is around.
Brooks admits she’s somewhat shy upon first meeting, but once she gets comfortable with a person, there’s no stopping the sophomore from sharing anything and everything.
A question about a secret non-basketball skill — playing Fortnite — turned into a conversation about becoming a professional gamer, about what it’s like to be a sports reporter, and then about the idea of becoming a broadcaster like ESPN’s Holly Rowe, if she can limit her nerves.
Senior Saniya Rivers said playfully last April she didn’t remember something Brooks said because, “Zoe says a lot of things.”
Madison Hayes and former Wolfpack forward Mimi Collins called Brooks the “craziest” member of the team during its NCAA Tournament run. At the time of their interview, Brooks was busy dancing, rolling on the locker room floor and cracking jokes to make their teammates laugh.
Brooks overheard the conversation and tried to deny their claim, saying she’s always reading quietly in the library.
“Oh, the one time you read a book on the airplane and now you think you read books all the time,” Hayes said. “She’s lying. Yes, it’s Zoe Brooks.”
“She picked the smallest book ever,” Collins added, laughing alongside Hayes. “It was like a mystery book, but it was very small.”
During the team’s promotional videos that play during timeouts at games, Brooks’ reactions and comments are unfiltered and naturally humorous, eliciting laughter from the Reynolds Coliseum faithful.
“I just say whatever comes to mind,” Brooks said. “That’s probably a problem.”
While her teammates might know more than they ever expected to learn, they still love her — and that’s led to a positive athletic experience, too.
“I love N.C. State. This is my new home,” Brooks said. “It’s always good to go home and see my friends and my family and go play basketball in New York. I do miss that, but I love it here a lot.”
The sophomore from Plainfield, New Jersey was a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American in high school. She was expected to make an immediate impact for the Wolfpack during the 2023-24 season, and did so, playing a key role in the team’s run to the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
As a freshman, Brooks averaged 9.8 points per game and 4.5 rebounds in the postseason. She contributed 10.8 points per NCAA Tournament contest. Brooks finished second on the team in scoring, tied with Aziaha James, during the national semifinal. She recorded 12 points.
“I feel like Zoe’s name could be out there more,” James said during ACC Tipoff in October. “Zoe’s game has gone unnoticed a lot of times, and she contributed to the team in so many ways. This year is going to be her breakout.”
Brooks is averaging 13.1 points per game this season, nearly three points higher than her freshman year average. The sophomore has 77 assists to 37 turnovers (2.1 A/TO ratio). Prior to the Wolfpack’s recent win over Virginia Tech, Brooks had recorded 31 assists and eight turnovers in the last five games (3.9 A/TO). That ratio dropped slightly after her outing against the Hokies, but she still remains one of the best passers in ACC play.
They expected this of her.
“Zoe already showed me a great freshman season, so she showed me everything that she’s capable of. She’s definitely held at a higher standard now, higher expectations. We expect a lot out of her,” Rivers said in October. “I’m passing it on to her. I’m not used to not having the ball in my hands, you know, so it’s a little nerve wracking, but I trust her. She’s proven that she can handle the ball. She’s proven that she can play under pressure.”
Her parents, Millie and Maurice Brooks, are at nearly every game; it’s a way to show her that they support her and her team through the good games and the bad games (though, there haven’t been many of those).
And, they’re happy to see their daughter grow into a better player and person.
“I’m very happy that we chose N.C. State. I like everything about N.C. State,” Maurice Brooks told reporters after the Syracuse game. I love the city. It’s close being on the East Coast. She’s gotten time. She was able to play early as a freshman. She plays a lot of minutes now. The ball’s in her hand. She loves the school. She’s got a dog, she’s got a car. She loves her roommates. I really have no complaints at all.”
Get to know the sophomore guard a little better. Some answers have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Which teammate does Brooks admire?
“I think I look up to Aziaha (James) the most. She’s funny. We get along. She’s gonna tell me what I’m doing wrong, what I’m doing right. If I’m having a rough game, she’ll make sure I stay confident; telling me to keep shooting. She gets excited when I score, and I feel like she genuinely wants to see me do well.”
Why does Brooks like playing for Wes Moore?
“I like how he lets his point guards go and runs the offense through them. I love coach Moore as a coach. He’s a funny guy that I can get along with, and his personality is like mine.”
What’s it like playing in New York?
Though Brooks and her older brother, Jalen, grew up going to Catholic school, they grew up close to New York City. Brooks said playing in the city is an experience all players should have, especially if they want to be tough. The Wolfpack can attribute her swift moves to the basket and ability to make shots through contact to this.
“It was very, very competitive; talk trash, a lot of one-on-one. You go get yours, like classic street ball,” she said. “I feel like it’s good for every basketball player to experience New York basketball every now and then.
“There’s no such thing as fouls in New York. You could go get clothes lined and they still want you to make the shot. They’re not looking to call no fouls.”
What’s it like to have Zam Jones as her ‘mini me’?
“She’s hilarious. Actually, I don’t know if many people know that yet, because, obviously, she’s a freshman, but she’s really funny. She’s really cool to be around. I love her style of play. Like people say, it reminds me of myself. She’s flashy, she can score, she can pass; a really good play maker.”
Does she play video games against her teammates?
“They’re probably trash. I don’t even waste the time to play with them. I play solos by myself. I used to play on my friends back at home, but that was too frustrating.”
Other things to know about Zoe Brooks
Parents: Maurice and Millie
Dog: Benji
When she started playing basketball: 5 years old
Other sports played: Soccer and baseball
Which parent she is most like: Maurice
Who people confuse her with: Zamareya Jones, especially when they both wear their glasses.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
