From Jersey Shore to Jersey Sure: Who Knew Brooks from N.J.?

MarShon Brooks (not Marshon) thought he'd be taken at #15 by the Pacers. So did the Nets. That's where they had him on their in-house Draft Board. But Kawhi Leonard had fallen out of the top 10 and the temptation proved too great for Larry Bird and so Brooks kept falling and falling until Billy King scooped him up in a trade with Boston at #25.

No matter. After switching from Celtic to Net headgear, he revealed not only that he's happy to be a Net, but that he's Jersey Shore boy, having been born in Long Branch before moving to Stone Mountain, GA. He's the 14th (and quite possibly the last) New Jersey native to join the hometown club.

"It’s a great opportunity. I was born here. I have a lot of family in the state. I’m looking forward to helping them," Brooks said of the Nets, offering to name the Nets starting lineup, but noting which player he hopes to work closest with. "They have a really good point guard in Deron Williams. It’s going to make life easy for me. I’m just looking forward to helping him."

In his ESPN chat, Brooks also talked about wanting to meet two others in the Nets' organization, Jay-Z and Beyonce', "Two people I listen to. I look forward to meeting them. Especially Beyonce."

• Wait finally over, Brooks excited to join Nets - Kevin McNamara - Providence Journal
• NBA Draft: Chat with prospects moments after they're drafted - ESPN
• Marshon S. Brooks (Marshon2) on Twitter - Twitter.com
• Q&A with MarShon Brooks after Trade (Video) - New Jersey Nets
  
• Billy King works Draft-night Magic (Brooks Interview Inside) - Greg Hrinya - Examiner
  
• Marshon Brooks Selected In The First Round Of The NBA Draft - Providence Friars