LA JOLLA, Calif. – Former Triton J'Raan Brooks has signed a deal to play professionally for the Leicester Riders of Super League Basketball. Leicester is the oldest professional team in Great Britain, operating since 1967.

In two seasons at UC San Diego, Brooks played in 41 games, starting all of them. As a senior in 2023-24, Brooks averaged 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, connecting on 40% of his three-point field goal tries. He was named to the Winter Big West All-Academic Team, honored as Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators for his work in the classroom and on the court and he earned NABC Honors Court academic recognition. 

Brooks said: "I'm beyond excited for the opportunity from the Riders and Coach Rob for allowing me to be able to achieve my dream goal of playing ball at the pro level. I've heard nothing but great things about the Club and city, can't wait to get out to Leicester to meet the team and staff, and as well as play in front of the Riders fans. I'm ready to get to work!"

Head Coach Rob Paternostro added: "J'Raan is a versatile big who can play either the 4 or the 5. He has a skill set that will add something different to the frontcourt players we have on our roster. He is versatile defensively: he is a player who can guard multiple positions and who plays with a high IQ. We're looking forward to having him on our team this season."

Brooks and the Riders begin preseason action on Sept. 6 against USA Select.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.