We've seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a 'Getting to Know' series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today's edition will take a closer look at AJ Cook of Weddington High School and CC Elite.
We've seen Cook numerous times over the last year, including at our Phenom 150 Camp prior to the season, where we stated, 'Continuing onto a player that continues to quietly stand out as one of the most productive performers on display, regardless of setting, AJ Cook. He's a smart, wiry point guard prospect that simply knows how to run a team or work without the ball and apply tremendous pressure as a spot-up threat. Cook handles and passes the ball very well, never forcing the action and always looking to make the best play available. He's crafty and scores efficiently from all three levels, but also does a great job of working on defense and forces plenty of turnovers as a result. Next in his development process is working to get stronger, as it would make him a more consistent finisher through contact. Coach Washington on Cook: 'Shooter, shooter, shooter! AJ shot the ball at an unbelievable rate, knocking down one three-pointer after another. I would like to see him work on defending and attacking the rim more, but he was probably the best shooter in attendance.' Cook had a terrific showing at camp and should emerge as a leader sooner than later at Weddington.'
Since then, Cook has only continued to further his progression and solidify himself as a next-level talent. Between his time with CC Elite and the CC Warriors, Cook hasn't seemed to skip a beat. He's a smart, unselfish game manager that knows how to actively get others involved while still taking advantage of scoring opportunities from the perimeter. Cook is a knockdown shooter with craftiness and decisiveness, which allows him to keep the opposition on their toes. He plays with confidence and makes quality decisions when attacking the basket. Cook isn't going to try and do too much or operate outside of his abilities, and should continue drawing the attention of coaches at the next level.