From Louisiana to New York, Cooks Impresses

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Brandon Cooks, shown here at a NYC basketball event.

July 8, 2006 – Standing 6’8” and weighing 215lbs, Brandon Cooks was a junior standout last season at Genesis One Prep, in Mendenhall, MS. While there, this Thibodaux, Louisiana native shared averages “28 (points) and 12 (rebounds)” for that team, which was consistently viewed as one of the best prep programs playing one of the hardest schedules in the land. This summer, he has burst onto the consciousness of East Coasters.

After self-identifying himself as “A three (small forward) and a four (power forward)” at the recent NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, Cooks relayed strengths of “penetrating and slashing” by using one dribble. He also revealed the need to work on his overall “ball handling”. It’s Brandon's belief that expanding his ability to pat the rock, when added to his excellent athleticism and jumping ability, will allow him create even more problems for defenders than he does now.

That would be a scary thought. At the NBAPA event, Brandon ended up averaging 10.25 points over 8 games played - leading him to be ranked 12th overall. In addition to attacking the rim, he showed a propensity to clean the glass, and battle around the basket.

During the camp, Cooks felt he competed on par with anyone there. “I’ve been doing pretty good up here” Brandon said, conveying the thought he could do better. “Even at this camp with me doing what I’m doing, I feel as though I’m as good as anybody around here”.

Sources indicated that Brandon also played well in the just completed Real Scout All-American Camp last weekend. This event, which provides a venue for prep school players as well as New York area high school student athletes youngsters overlooked by major tennis shoe camps, allowed Cooks another opportunity, as he put it, to demonstrate his “post moves”, ability to “run up and down the floor”, and “vert (vertical leap) ”. While nobody has actually measured Cooks' ability to jump, he indicated touching the top of the square on a backboard is almost possible.

Brandon has a connection in the Big Apple, with the New York Sky Riders, and its director, J.R. Rembert. Based in Queens, this AAU/travel team organization provides basketball and life training for 11 year olds through 17-and-under classified, young men. Rembert can present his charges a unique perspective, as he was a high profile prep school player before unfortunate circumstances at his former institution and the need to help his family financially forced him to abandon playing the sport he loves.

Cooks has been in New York several times this spring/summer, and enjoyed the opportunity. “It was a good experience… I had to evaluate the scene. It gave me a good opportunity to show may talent there, and on the circuit”, recounted Brandon.

Coming from Louisiana, where the basketball is “physical” according to Cooks, this Southern Louisiana native had an interesting take on NYC ball. “New York mainly has guards and stuff” he opined, and as such his level of physicality stood out. Brandon, displaying the heart and competitiveness requisite of a big time player dispelled any notions of being intimidated in the Big Apple, stating “I Just went out there to have fun, and play my game”.

Rembert sees the young man as “a Tyrus Thomas type player.” Elaborating further, the veteran of coaching and developing hoopers in the South Queens section of that borough, labeled Cooks ‘a high energy player”, with a “6’10” wingspan”, that will be a “High major power or shooting forward”. In Rembert’s opinion, “The development of his handle will dictate which frontcourt position he plays”.

With the combination of exposure provided by his New York and Genesis One experiences, Cooks is fast becoming a hotly recruited student-athlete. According to both he and Rembert, Minnesota, Cincinnati, LSU, and Rhode Island have all firmly offered, while UConn, Wake Forest, Arkansas, and Western Illinois have scouted the young man. Brandon hopes to make a decision “probably in the beginning of August”.

That leaves a college or university little time to make a big impression. The school that does will benefit from an athletic frontcourt performer, whose go to move, according to Rembert, is “Face up, triple threat, then either the shot fake or jab step, to one dribble, before attacking the rim”. What school couldn’t use a player with that ability?

Check out i95Ballerz.com for Brandon Cooks updates. His recruitment is sure to get as hot as a summer day in Thibodaux, or Queens for that matter.