"We'll need him to do a lot of things," Brown said of Rooks. "People really like his ability to score the ball and the fact that he's left-handed as well. When you watch him sometimes, when he gets to the basket and finishes, he's making moves and you're like, 'Wow, those are some high-level finishes,' and he's doing it as a high school sophomore.
"He's got great quickness and he can really shoot the ball. I'm talking about falling backwards, leaning, whatever, and he can go up and dunk over a 6-8 guy. Man, he's just a player."
Rooks was one of the top performers, in any age group, at the eighth N.C. Phenom 150 camp in Winston-Salem last month. More than 200 players from five states showed up. His performance wowed camp organizer Rick Lewis.
"Before the event, Rooks was primarily known as a shooting guard, but (he) worked hard in the off season on his ball handling and passing ability," Lewis said. "He has really elevated his game and has become a better all-around player. He will not be known just as a shooter anymore."
ESPN national recruiting analyst Dave Telep, who lives in the Raleigh area, agrees with Lewis' assessment.
"
Patrick Rooks Patrick Rooks
Guard
6-2, 165
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile
is one of the kids in our state who improved the most from his sophomore to junior seasons," Telep said. "He's a perfect fit, character and basketball wise, for (Clemson coach) Brad Brownell and I think he'll start for the Tigers for a number of seasons."