Jeff Brooks, now a senior at Penn State, is finally realizing his potential.

The 6-foot-8 Louisville native appeared in all but one game, but averaged only 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in his first three years with the Nittany Lions.

“For him, it’s all about confidence, and this year I think you’ve seen a much more confident Jeff Brooks,” senior D.J. Jackson said. “You see the guy we’re used to seeing for four years. Now, he’s just starting to come out of his shell and coming into his own.”

Through Wednesday, he was second on the Lions, with 13.5 points per game, eighth in the conference in rebounding with 8.0 per game, and fourth in field goal percentage at 57.2 percent.

“You definitely realize as a senior that this is it,” Brooks said. “Every day marks down my last time being out here. And every game marks down as well. My time is ticking, and that’s why I continue to play like every possession is my last.”