At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over a hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III, or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and under-recruited, and today's edition will highlight Jordan Cooper of Wayne Country Day School.
We've seen Cooper since the start of his high school basketball journey, recently stating, 'It should be a very interesting upcoming season for Jordan Cooper and Wayne Country Day. They appointed a new coach and maintained majority of their talent from last year, so this group should still compete for a state championship. Regardless, Cooper is someone who has continually proven himself against stiff levels of competition. He's a smart, wiry, athletic guard prospect with a polished skillset and the ability to operate from either backcourt position. His size is always a discussion point when overviewing his game, but he's consistently worked to get physically stronger and more reliable as an overall playmaker. Cooper is an excellent shooter with deep range, useful ball-handling, and the ability to meet opponents at the rim as a finisher. He can make a lasting impact with or without the ball in his hands. Cooper is a pesky defender with toughness and instincts for forcing turnovers at a nice volume. He's a guy who scholarship-level coaches should be monitoring closely, especially given the likelihood of another uptick in production for his upcoming senior season.'
Unsurprisingly, Cooper has continued to shine as a major cog for the Chargers of Wayne Country Day. He's leading the team in scoring (14.1 PPG) while making his presence felt on the glass and as a playmaker. Cooper possesses a quick first step, bouncy finishing nature, and the ability to find success with or without the ball in his hands. He's a reliable shooting threat who can attack off the bounce, make proper reads, and pose a constant threat to put opponents on a poster. Cooper is great in the open floor but also makes a consistent impact in half-court situations. He forces turnovers at a steady rate and pushes transition play whenever possible. Cooper is a smart, unselfish teammate who is willing to do whatever to position his team to win'as evidenced by the Chargers’ 27-6 record. His blend of skill, athleticism, and work ethic should appeal to a variety of different programs at the next level.