The way that freshman guard Brooke Carlson has started her college basketball career at Colorado State could have been hard to predict by some people.
If Carlson were just an average player, perhaps that would be the case. The way that Batavia coach Kevin Jensen knows Carlson, however, her initial success is no shock at all.
“I can’t say that any of us are surprised,” Jensen said. “Athletically, she’s so gifted. We were a nice piece to the puzzle with how she developed, but so many times behind the scenes, she was putting in hours and hours of work that very few knew about. It’s paying off now.”
Especially since Carlson has emerged as Colorado State’s top option off the bench. Carlson, Batavia’s all-time leading scorer, is averaging 6.2 points in her first taste of college action.
She also has 25 assists, 14 steals and 12 rebounds for the Rams (9-4).
“It’s been 100% better than what I felt like I was coming into,” Carlson said. “It’s been a lot, but it’s been fun. I was kind of expecting to figure my way out, but I found what I can do already.”
The highlight game for Carlson came Dec. 8 against Gonzaga. She scored 18 points in 27 minutes, both career highs.
While those statistics are striking, what stands out most is what Carlson accomplished countless times at Batavia. When the game is in the balance, Carlson finds a way to take over.
She hit a layup with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Colorado State a 66-65 lead against Gonzaga, which eventually forced a tie and sent the game into overtime.
With only 2 seconds left in OT, another layup by Carlson gave the Rams a dramatic 74-72 win.
“The bigger the stage, the better she’s going to look,” Jensen said. “That’s holding true still.”
Colorado State coach Ryun Williams fell in love with Carlson’s game during the recruiting process, but translating that skill to the next level can often be tricky.
Carlson, however, has made quick strides with the Rams.
Batavia’s Brooke Carlson (2) goes up for a layup against Geneva’s Leah Palmer (22) during the Class 4A Glenbard West Sectional final in Glen Ellyn on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Mike Mantucca / The Beacon-News)
“First of all, just an elite competitor,” Williams said. “Her motor really stood out. She’s a fearless player. That really stood out to me and the staff. Obviously, she’s very skilled. She can put pressure on the rim and can shoot it.
“We surely hoped we could get her on the floor early in her career. She’s the one that got herself to that floor. We expect that to keep growing. She’s just different than anyone else on our team. I think she’s a kid that can lead us.”
Carlson knew that the level of play would jump up significantly in college. Those hours that Jensen talked about behind the scenes helped her build to that level.
She’ll experience another level of play Sunday when Colorado State begins Mountain West Conference play at Utah State.
“It’s definitely a lot more pressure and more intense, I would say,” Carlson said. “At the end of the day, it’s just basketball, so you have to figure out how to make it like it’s always been.”
Batavia’s Brooke Carlson (2) scoops in a layup after splitting the defense of Geneva’s Kinsey Gracie (24) and Leah Palmer during a DuKane Conference game in Batavia on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
Williams also has seen all the traits he observed about Carlson in high school manifest quickly.
“She’s got that little swag,” Williams said. “She’s a confident young lady. She believes in her ability, and fearless is the word. She’s had a great first semester for us, and she’s been rewarded for it.
“I’m sure there’s more of that to come, but we’re just trying to get her to be really consistent and solid every single day. She’s buying into how she needs to really impact our team.”
Carlson has a simple plan for the rest of the season.
“I just feel like finding myself, being 100% comfortable in what I’m doing and winning are the goals,” Carlson said. “It’s a lot of hard work, that’s for sure.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
