By CRAIG ANDERSON, Staff Writer With an icy look in his eyes and the ability to dribble equally well with either hand, Jesse Brooks continues to run the point for the top-ranked Archbishop Spalding boys basketball team. It has to be that way for the 6-foot, 165-pound senior, now in his third year of facing big-time competition with the same cool efficiency. Any sign of weakness - emotionally or physically - just wouldn't cut it at this level. "There are going to be runs in basketball, and people look to see how the point guard is reacting to the bad ones," Brooks said. "If you panic, your teammates see that and might panic too. If you get flustered, then the other team will play with a lot more confidence. "It's up to the point guard not to let any of that happen. I like having the ball in my hand and being in control of the team." Brooks has always played up to the level of competition, and carried a sparkling 438-187 career assist-to-turnover ratio coming into this week. He's averaged nearly 6.3 points in 89 games. "Jesse is a very versatile point guard," prep coach Mike Glick said. "He's outstanding at handling the ball, and will make big shots when we need them. He's also gotten a lot better in terms of on-ball defense." At last month's prestigious Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Severn resident totalled 27 points, 18 assists and seven turnovers in three games, including two Spalding victories. Playing against Memphis-bound point guard Darius Washington, a likely McDonald's All-American, Brooks made three of five shots, had seven points, eight assists, two steals and three turnovers in a 66-54 setback. The 6-foot Washington totalled 21 points, four rebounds and three assists, but also went 6-for-15 shooting and made five turnovers. "It was a great experience," Brooks said. "He's very fast and makes every move count. I thought I kept up pretty well, even though we lost." Spalding hasn't lost much the past three seasons, going 72-17 since Brooks' sophomore season. He's carried on the family tradition set by older brother Isaac, a former Cava- lier standout who's now a senior 3-point specialist at Division III Goucher College. Basketball has always been a family affair in the Brooks household, with dad Isaac Sr. and mom Anita rarely missing their sons' games. Oldest brother Robert played at Meade, and is now an Air Force staff sergeant stationed in Germany. Sister Shirley played softball at Meade and now works at a National Security Administration day care facility with her mother. The youngest Brooks is considered a low-Division I college recruit, and is being pursued heavily by Hartford (Conn.). Other schools will likely join the chase after the high school season. Carrying a 2.7 grade-point average, Brooks will be eligible to play immediately as a college freshman. He's interested in studying computer science, following the course of his father, a 20-year member of the Air Force who retired as a technical sergeant. "That's what I'm looking at now, but people usually change majors in college," said Brooks, who was born in England but spent most of his life in Anne Arundel County. "I've always been interested in computers, though, so for right now that's what I want to study." Published January 28, 2004, The Capital, Annapolis, Md. Copyright © 2004 The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland