By David Pederson, University of Northwestern

When you ask the players and coaches of the University of Northwestern Women’s Basketball team to describe Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian), you will receive a variety of answers. You might hear about her dynamic playmaking and prolific scoring abilities. You will also hear mention of how encouraging, positive, and selfless of a teammate she is. However, the one thing you can be sure to hear when you ask UNW players and coaches about Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) is this: UNW Women’s Basketball is better because of her.

On the court, it was impossible to miss Brooklyn’s positive impact. DeKam (known as “BDK” to her teammates and coaches) was a fantastic player for three seasons for the Eagles, and the numbers prove it. BDK averaged 12 points a game throughout her career while shooting 35% from the three point line over three seasons. She also racked up 140 assists, 246 rebounds, and 113 steals during her playing career.

Aside from the impressive statistics, BDK also provided Eagle fans with many memorable moments. During her freshman season, BDK and the Eagles traveled to Duluth for a late season matchup with St. Scholastica. The visiting Eagles were inbounding the basketball with only three seconds remaining in the contest, trailing 62-61. Coach Kahl drew up a play during a timeout, the basketball got inbounded to BDK, and the rest is history. BDK faked a handoff, spun, took a hard dribble to the basket, and delivered a game winning layup to knock off St. Scholastica at the buzzer.  

The last time BDK played a game inside the Ericksen Center, she put on a show for UNW Nation. It was March 12^th, 2021 and it was the NCCAA North Central Regional Championship. The Eagles were squaring off with Trinity International University and needed a win to advance to the NCCAA National Tournament. BDK played the best game of career and helped the Eagles earn a berth to the National Tournament. She scored a career high 31 points in what would not only be her best game ever inside the Ericksen Center, but her last one.

That regional championship game was not supposed to be BDK’s last game as an Eagle. Brooklyn entered the 2021-2022 season having been named All-Conference a year earlier and only 86 points away from joining the exclusive 1,000 points scored in a career club. The expectations were that BDK would have another fantastic season on the court, be named All-Conference once again, and join the 1,000 point club in 2022. However, the reality was different than the expectations. DeKam suffered a season ending injury in early November which ended her 2021-2022 season before a single game was played.

Despite challenging circumstances and not being able to impact the UNW Women’s Basketball team the way she expected, Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) did exactly what all of her teammates and coaches expected her to do: made the best out of a hard situation.

If you happen to see an Eagle basketball game or practice this winter, you will see BDK making a positive impact on her team. Brooklyn has poured her efforts into being an encouraging teammate, inspiring leader, and positive voice on the Eagle bench. BDK’s effect on the Eagles has not gone unnoticed by the head coach who recruited her, coached her through her three year playing career, and has now watched her deal with this injury.

“There is no question that Brooklyn has left her mark on this program”, head coach Aaron Kahl said. “Her unique ability to connect with a wide range of people has endeared her to all of her teammates over the past four seasons. She has a wonderful ability to compete at the highest level, yet at the same time not take herself too seriously which has drawn others towards her and provides her opportunities to be a tremendous leader. She is driven to be the best can be, both on and off the court. Her on the court skills and accomplishments speak for themselves, but who she is as a person is where she has made the most impact on those around her”.

Brooklyn’s teammates have always admired her playing ability. “On the basketball court you always knew you would get BDK’s best effort. There is no part of her game that is lacking, she can do it all, and do it all well.” These were the words of fellow senior, Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy). However, through this difficult 2021-2022 season, BDK has impacted her teammates in an even more powerful way than performing on the basketball court. Roberts added, “Without her on the court, you still know that BDK is in the gym. She has the best attitude! BDK doesn’t draw attention to her injury, she just shows up, encourages, and helps the team however she can. Brooklyn is an amazing leader and captain, and is making a big difference on our team.”

BDK’s leadership abilities are making a difference to the large group of young players on UNW’s team. Freshman Taylor Schuck (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) said that despite not being on the court with her, she has learned a tremendous amount from BDK’s advice and guidance. “Brooklyn has been super helpful by consistently encouraging us and giving us reminders throughout practices and games that help us have success individually, as well as better support our teammates”, Schuck said.

Livvy Grosz (New Brighton, Minn./St. Anthony), a sophomore with the Eagles, has been impressed with the positivity Brooklyn has brought to the team, despite going through a challenging situation. This positivity has been an inspiration to the entire squad. “Brooklyn is an amazing leader on this team”, Grosz said. “She brings so much joy to every practice and game. She shows up every day and puts a smile on everyone’s face.” BDK’s injury was hard for the entire team to deal with, as Grosz admitted there were tears shed when they heard the news. However, as the old cliché says, this hard situation has revealed BDK’s strong character. “Her character was truly shown when she continued to be a leader and showed up to support the team despite her injury. I hope that someday I can be half the leader and friend Brooklyn is.”

Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) made the UNW Women’s Basketball program better as a player, and throughout the 2021-2022 season she has done something even more impressive. She has shaped, led, and improved the program without taking a shot. The best way to describe Brooklyn as a player, teammate, and friend is done by this quote from fellow captain and senior, Hailey Paup (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Concordia Academy): “One of my favorite things about the way Brooklyn plays basketball is her confidence and consistency. She plays both ends of the floor with 100% effort all the time. I miss her court presence every day. Brooklyn has always been a leader, but this season has been different. She has stepped into this new role with such grace and maturity, it is truly admirable. Her basketball IQ is so high that having her at practices and in the locker room is invaluable. She always has insight to offer. Brooklyn has loved me and this team so well, I can’t imagine AVODAH without her.”

Whether it is getting a steal and laying it in on the other end, draining a three point shot from deep, or keeping a positive attitude and encouraging her teammates through a difficult circumstance, there is one thing that we know for sure: BDK is a big part of UNW Women’s Basketball.