CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte head men's basketball coach Grant Leonard announced the addition of Jaylen Brooks as Director of Player Development for the Royals' men's basketball program. Brooks joins Queens with a background centered around skill development, performance training, scouting and athlete mentorship.
"Jaylen is an impressive young coach who is at the beginning of a promising career," Leonard said. "His character and work ethic are evident, and we excited to see where he goes in this business."
A former collegiate basketball player, Brooks has coached and trained athletes ranging from youth players to professionals. He served as the head coach of the varsity boys team at York Prep Academy after serving as an assistant varsity coach and head middle school boys coach at Davidson Day School.
At York Prep, Brooks inherited the program with less than a month to prepare for the season and guided the team to an 8-4 conference record, a 12-12 overall mark and a berth in the SCHSL 2A second round of the playoffs. At Davidson Day, he has worked extensively in skill development, scouting, strength and conditioning and player mental wellness.
Brooks is also the founder of Master The Mind Project, a Charlotte-based training and mentorship organization focused on holistic athlete development. Through the organization, he designs customized skill, weight-training and mental-training programs for athletes while also overseeing outreach, scheduling and content creation.
His player-development experience also includes working with collegiate and professional athletes through By Any Means Basketball and coaching professional players at the Harts Sports Management International Exposure Camp in Las Vegas. At the camp, Brooks coached two teams of professional players, implemented an offensive system and led a skill-development session for the entire camp.
"It seems like everyone, from the players and staff to the administration, is fully bought in and genuinely loves to work," Brooks said of his hiring. "I can't wait to be part of such a like-minded community, and I'm grateful for the opportunity."
A USA Gold Coach License certified coach, Brooks also has experience with Synergy and Hudl.
He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in sports management from Lander University in 2024 after beginning his collegiate career at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte. As a student-athlete, Brooks competed at both institutions and earned multiple academic honors, including the USCAA Academic All-American distinction.
"I am born and raised in Charlotte, so I'm super excited to do what I love in my hometown and to keep making an impact on the community," Brooks said.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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