After weeks of uncertainty for the future of the Central Michigan men’s basketball team, new faces arrived across the board from a variety of schools and backgrounds. Two of those faces have known each other for almost 20 years.

The last time that brothers Jorden and Durral “Phat Phat” Brooks played basketball together, they were in high school. “Phat Phat” is a nickname given to Durral by his father because of his chubby cheeks as a child. Now, they are playing Division I for the Chippewas.

The road to teammates

The last time they shared the court was at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School. In those two years, they went 45-2, with two state championship appearances, winning one. Throughout it all, nothing was bigger than the support of family.

During Jorden’s senior year, they created a small tradition with their mom.

“Every single game, they came up and gave me a hug,” Nicole Tatum-Brooks, the boys’ mother, said. “I asked them why after the first time, and they said it was just in case that was their last time playing together. So every game, the rest of high school, I always got a hug from them.”

Less than a week before the announcement that head coach Andy Bronkema was hired at CMU, then University of Michigan freshman guard, and Jorden’s brother, Durral, entered the transfer portal.

Jasmine Brookins

The Central Michigan University men’s basketball Brooks brothers, sophomore guard Phat Phat (Durrall) and junior guard Jorden pose for a picture to show their brotherly bond in McGuirk Arena, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Phat Phat transferred to Central from the University of Michigan with Jorden transferring to continue his collegiate career with coach Bronkema from Ferris State. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)

“Once I knew that I was gonna come here, it was (up to) what Jorden wanted to do,” he said.

Nicole said the younger brother, Durral, chose CMU because of the freedom of its play style.

“He was mainly just looking for a coach that was going to let him play his game and have confidence in him,” Nicole said. “He’s just looking for a coach (who) believed in him and was going to allow him to get back to just playing basketball.”

Jorden was at Ferris State, which Bronkema had recently left. He considered whether to follow his coach and reunite with his brother.

“I didn’t think he was going to go at the time, but I was like, I’ll probably try to follow him because this is my fourth year of Bronx (Bronkema),” Jorden said. “Once (Durral) hit the portal, we were just talking, ‘if you make the move out, I’ll go.’”

Jorden played a total of 18 games and averaged 2.7 points and 8.4 minutes per game in his three years at Ferris State University.

For the brothers, their decisions went beyond their relationship with one another.

“We made sure they both made the decision based on themselves, more so than just so that they could play together for us,” Nicole said.

Eventually, Jorden took the jump to Division I basketball, just like his coach. He always liked Bronkema’s system according to Nicole, and he felt that the jump up a division was nothing to fear.

“It does feel good,” Jorden said. “I never thought we were gonna play together again.”

Basketball and beyond

Even though they’ve played with other teammates in the two-year gap, they still know how to succeed off of each other’s work.

“I feel like we are just very connected,” Durral said. “We just know what to do. I always know where he’s at for him to shoot the ball. He always knows where I’m at for him to kick it ahead to me.”

Despite not yet sharing the court this season, their relationship still shines amongst each other.

“We already know our play styles,” Jorden said. “I can shoot the ball, and he can pass and finish. So, it’ll be, like, a play where he’s dribbling up transition, and he’ll be like, ‘Get behind me. I’m about to kick it behind you. Shoot the three.’”

Alivia Cranick

The Central Michigan men's basketball team lines up for the National Anthem before the game in McGuirk Arena on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (CMLife | Alivia Cranick)

Off the court, they play consistent roles in each other’s day-to-day lives by just being present and playing their favorite game.

“Academically, we do our own stuff, but socially, we stay in an apartment together,” Durral said.

Even with the two-and-a-half-year age gap, this dynamic is what they’ve grown up in and continue to have.

Growing up, Durral would play up a level just to play with his brother. He said that most of their friends hung out with the both of them and became one big family.

This was the dynamic they had since they were little, strengthened by basketball.

“I think basketball in general has brought them even (closer) just because it’s a common interest. But from day one, since they were babies, they’ve always had a ball in their hand. Phat has always hung out with Jordan or whoever he was playing with,” Nicole said. “They have their normal little sibling, back-and-forth stuff, but for the most part, they’ve always had a great relationship, and they’ve always pushed each other.

“I think they just have a great friendship.”