8th Grader Nyla Brooks Earns Offer from Mike Carey and West Virginia

Most future Division I athletes typically start getting recruited during their sophomore and junior seasons of high school. However, that’s the case with Nyla Brooks because she’s not your typical 8th grade athlete.

Brooks is a standout basketball player from Alexandria, Virginia and not only is she already receiving college interest, she earned her first D-I basketball scholarship offer from Mike Carey and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Courtesy of Nyla Brooks

This is obviously an outstanding accomplishment for a rising star so West Virginia Sports Now spent a few minutes talking to Brooks about her big achievement. Despite not yet being in high school, the articulate Brooks demonstrated a maturity beyond her young age.

“My coach texted my dad and wanted me to call and then I called the West Virginia coach and after talking for a bit, he told me that I had a full scholarship offer to go to West Virginia and I was really surprised,” said Brooks. “When they asked me to call, I kind of had a feeling that they were going to offer me because West Virginia has been previously recruiting me and I had talked to the coaches before. Because of this, I just had a feeling the offer was coming.”

pic.twitter.com/ISLznExp7Y

— 2025 Nyla Brooks (@ball_7b) March 31, 2021

Receiving an offer as an 8th grader from a major program like West Virginia is unusual but Brooks was very calm describing her emotions about the big offer, which obviously won’t be her last.

“I was very excited to get that type of news and being with my dad in the car as I received it made it special. We both were very happy, were smiling and it was really just exciting for me and my family. My dad has been a big part of my basketball journey, helping me with workouts and being there for me.”

“The strengths of my game start with my crossover, which I believe is a killer. I get a lot of people with that move,” said Brooks. “From that, I’m able to pull-up mid-range, which I believe I’m good at. Also, I’m good from the free throw line, which you have to be good at. Something that I want to work on over the next couple of seasons is being aggressive on the court and not being afraid to get to the basketball. Also, being able to see the entire floor more and being more aggressive with my rebounding.”

Made Hoops @MadeHoops – I had fun this weekend! I can’t wait until the next Session at Boo Williams . Back to the Lab 🔬 (next week) pic.twitter.com/p7IYLRWzjN

— 2025 Nyla Brooks (@ball_7b) February 15, 2021

The story of Nyla Brooks as a basketball player is just starting but West Virginia jumpstarted her young career but she doesn’t plan on changing her approach that’s gotten her to this point.

“I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing and just try and continue to keep getting better. I know now that I have to work and probably put in more work. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing because that’s how I got this first offer from West Virginia. I just want to get better.”