Anton Brookshire - Iona

Another Yanders Law alumni to enter the NCAA transfer portal, Anton Brookshire, has made his selection.

Originally from Milwaukee, Anton Brookshire made quite the splash as a high schooler in Missouri at Kickapoo. His play earned him the opportunity to play for Mizzou in his first NCAA season. From there, as so many others have done, he entered the transfer portal.

The Basketball Movement caught up with Brookshire and asked about his experience in the portal.

“Honestly, it was pretty smooth,” Brookshire says. “It was a process of patience. Sometimes you are hearing from a different coach every day, but other times you would have several days of quiet. I had guys like Rob (Yanders, Brookshire’s uncle) in my corner, so I never lost hope. It is a tough process but a good process.”

Brookshire announced on social media that he made the decision to play for legendary Head Coach Rick Pitino at Iona. The decision takes Anton out of the Midwest part of the country for the first time in his hoops career as he heads to New York.

“After talking with family, Uncle Rob, going on visits… the coaching staff (at Iona) treated me in a way that felt like home,” Brookshire says. “I went to dinner with some of the players and learned a lot. Having a Hall of Fame coach like Coach Rick makes me know I can reach my goals and that it’ll be a good fit for me.”

Overall, Anton is ready to embrace the move across the country, as he can stay connected with those he is leaving behind through technology. “I’m excited about it,” Brookshire says. “Getting here, getting to work, and being around these guys is exciting. I’m ready to try out getting away from home - it is actually pretty easy to stay in contact with family through Facetime and stuff.”

Brookshire has already been in New York for about a month. Practice has not started, but he can complete individual workouts and start applying his knowledge earned at The Basketball Movement and the experience he gained at Mizzou.

“I was blessed by the opportunity to be under the coaches’ wings at Mizzou and learn for a year,” Brookshire says. “I learned how to deal with each day and be consistent. I learned to never take a day for granted, and I am thankful for my time at Mizzou.”

That consistency applies to Anton’s work ethic, which he notes his new coaches and teammates can always expect from him.”I’ll bring energy and be a guy that’s the same whether I’m playing or not playing,” Brookshire says. “I will be a great leader and hopefully bring some wins. They had a great season and were close to the tournament last year. We all want to make it, so that is goal number one.”

Anton says that classes are going well too. He was a Sports Management major his freshman year, but with that program not offered at Iona, he is currently undecided.

One of the premier student-athletes to come out of our area in a while and an all-time-great Yanders Law alum, we will be rooting for Brookshire as he continues his journey. Good luck this upcoming season, Anton!

Isaac Haney - Northwestern State

Another SW MO standout and Yanders Law alum commits to a new school - Isaac Haney is headed to Northwestern State.

Isaac Haney torched the prep scene in Missouri and traveling with Yanders Law around the country. During his first year in the NCAA, he was an impactful player for a solid Missouri State squad. When he decided to enter the transfer portal, he admittedly did not know quite what to expect.

“It was definitely all very new,” Haney tells The Basketball Movement. “I had not spoken to anyone that had personally done it. I talked with family and all my supporters, people like Rob (Yanders) that are closest to me. Like anything else, you just take it as it comes. It felt kind of like my sophomore and junior seasons (in high school) getting recruited all over again.”

During his time playing for Missouri State, Haney came away with a wealth of experience as he continues to grow with the game he has always loved.

“I learned how to adjust to the college game,” Haney says. “It is a bit like in high school when you come in as a freshman but get to play varsity against guys that may be three or four years older than you. Getting recruited is tough enough, but then you’re back to playing older dudes again.”

Isacc says that the best thing to come out of his year with MSU was becoming more physically equipped to play at the college level.

Asked how he decided to play for Northwestern State, Haney gives a nod to his new head coach and a desire to continue the winning ways he has been accustomed to throughout his career.

“I had to take a step back and think about what was best for me and my future,” Haney says. “I also have a great relationship with Coach (Corey) Gipson. He’s about what I’m about - winning most of all. (Northwestern) is a smaller school, but we’ll be able to compete with whoever we play.”

Moving over 400 miles to Louisiana will be a big transition for the prolific guard, but it is really just one more challenge for Haney to conquer as he always has.

“(Moving so far) is not what I would probably call ideal,” Haney says. “But, I am excited and thankful." The town is smaller and actually feels like home at West Plains. Even if it is not ideal, I am more excited than nervous.”

Haney is majoring in business administration and is choosing to emphasize financial planning. His GPA is sitting around 3.9 after his first year in school, and he seems to have a hang of being a collegiate student-athlete."

“It’s been nice,” Haney says. “I owe a lot to academic advisors in my corner, giving me the tools to be stress-free in the classroom.”

New school, same “Ice” Haney on the hardwood and in the classroom. The Basketball Movement and #LawNation will back Isaac in all his endeavors - he earned Rob Yanders’ stamp of approval long ago. He keeps getting better, and we are excited to see what he does for the Northwestern program. Good luck, Isaac!

Trevon Brazile on the other side of the portal

Kickapoo and Yanders Law alumni, Trevon Brazile, has ended his short stint in the transfer portal by committing to Arkansas.

Trevon Brazile described the transfer portal as a “crazy process,” but it has worked out well for the promising second-year big man out of Springfield, MO.

“As soon as I hit the portal, my phone blew up,” Brazile says. “It was a little overwhelming but good to have so many options and a chance to talk to so many different schools.”

Brazile, a Yanders Law AAU alumni, shocked Southwest Missouri by transferring to Kickapoo his senior season. That move worked out well, with the Chiefs winning a state title. After earning his stripes at Mizzou, he is confident that he is making the right move once again.

In seeking out a new school, Brazile says that he was looking for a program with similar goals to his own.

“(Arkansas) is all about winning and competing,” Brazile says. “They laid out a game plan for what they wanted to do with me. They are a hardball school that wants to win.”

Another standout attribute that the explosive athlete noticed was how meticulously the program went through every aspect of the game. Sounds like the owner of a training facility that we know.

“The attention to detail stood out when I was making my decision,” Brazile says. “On my visit, I could tell everything was done with precision. It just felt right.”

While Trevon is focused on winning in his second college season, he will always lean on the lessons he learned in his first.

“I didn’t play the first nine games (for Mizzou) due to health, so that helped me on the mental side - handling adversity,” Brazile says. On the basketball side, I got used to the pace and really just learned the college game.”

Still evolving as a player, Brazile is one of the highest-upside guys to come out of the Yanders Law program in a long time. Strength is the area he is trying to improve upon the most right now.

“I am working on ball-handling - keeping the ball on a string,” Brazile says. “Also, shooting off the dribble. Really, I am working on getting stronger with the ball AND getting stronger in the weight room.”

Asked what Razorback fans can expect from him, Brazile sums it up nicely by saying: “a hardworking kid.”

“I am going to play my role,” Brazile says. “… and yeah, high-flying plays, alley-oops, and blocked shots.” There it is.

Brazile has always been a blast to watch on the hardwood, and Arkansas coaches, teammates, and fans just scored a helluva recruit. Good luck next season, Trevon!

Check out more photos of Arkansas’ top recruit here!

Transfer portal talk with Rob Yanders

Rob Yanders breaks down what the transfer portal is as well as the pros and cons.

Many familiar names have recently entered the NCAA transfer portal. Former high school stars from the area (and Yanders Law alumni) such as Anton Brookshire, Trevon Brazile, and Monty Johal are among the players to test the waters. But, what exactly is the transfer portal?

Rob Yanders breaks down what the transfer portal offers to collegiate athletes:

“Having the transfer portal means players can explore their options as student-athletes,” Yanders says. “They maintain their option to return to their current school, but also explore other avenues.”

Yanders says that since gaining national momentum over the last two years, the transfer portal has helped AND hurt players' situations.

“College coaches have been able to use transfers to get more experienced players,” Yanders says. “That is a very appealing option for coaches on the ‘chopping block.’ Generally, those hurt the most are high school seniors. Unless you are 6’10 250 or a clear-cut, top-100 player, it is getting tougher. Middling players are having a tougher time getting exposure.”

“For guys like Anton and Trevon, it could be great coming from a power five conference,” Yanders says. “With their experience, they could move up the food change or make a great mid-major splash.” Since discussing with Yanders, Brazile has already committed to Arkansas, who made plenty of noise this year during March Madness.

Yanders says that the scary part of the transfer portal is not always being allowed to return to your current team.

“It has been interesting,” Yanders says. “There could be 2,000 players in the transfer portal this year, and not every player will even make it out. It is all about betting on yourself. Coaches may choose to fill the void you are leaving ‘just in case.’”

Congratulations to Trevon Brazile on finding a fit! Good luck to those players remaining in the portal, as well as all incoming players that are now competing with a larger player pool than ever. College hoops is getting more interesting all the time, and we will always be rooting for our local guys and gals.

Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement Exclusive for continued insight from Yanders and news from around our corner of the world of hoops.