Brooks of SHS to take ability to Coahoma CC
Coahoma Community College may have just found its Diamond in the rough.
Starkville High School's Diamond Brooks will take her talents in track and field to the next level in Clarksdale and she celebrated her signing at the school gymnasium on Wednesday with family, friends and coaches.
Even though Coahoma found out just recently what kind of athlete it was getting in Brooks, Tony Minor knew that about the Lady Yellow Jacket a long time ago.
Brooks was valuable in several events for SHS, but was especially good in the long jump. She made the Class 6A State meet three times in the last five year and finished second at state the last two years.
“Any event I ever asked her to do, she never said no,” Minor said. ““She was the best in the jumps. It always seemed like that last jump at the state she was edged out. It's tough once you get to that state level. Every time she went, it goes to show she was state material.
“She never backed down from the competition. I'm just happy she was on my team. I could always count on her being in four events and I knew I was going to get 10 solid points.”
Brooks was attracted to Coahoma because it was close to home and she can come back home easily to visit with family and friends.
The Tigers were also telling Brooks what she wanted to hear.
“They said it's going to be a good fit for me and something I'd like,” Brooks said.
Minor looks forward to seeing Brooks take advantage of her opportunity.
“She gets another chance at academics and to work on athletics to run track,” Minor said. “I'm happy for her and happy for the family.”
Brooks may be best at jumps, but she is open to doing anything the Coahoma program wants.
She doesn't see limiting herself to just one event.
“Whatever I want to do, I can do it,” Brooks said.