Bears Land Redlands Swingman

[BeeLine]

While teammate Rodney Alexander got the headlines and high ranking and signed with Illinois today, Chris Cooks 6'4" swingman for Redlands led the perennial juco power in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, and shot 64% from the field. Known also as a lockdown defender, Cooks is gonna be a Missouri State Bear. One down, one to go; just need to wrap up the big guy later this week.

[MikeKennedyRulz]

Fire Barry now!!!!

[Ron Mexico]

With him signed and Knapp in the mix does that mean Dex Manswell is on the way out?

[BeeLine]

There is a scholy available, as best I know. Cooks averaged 13.7 ppg, 7.5 rbs, 4.3 assists, 2.7 steals. Redlands was the number 1 ranked juco squad much of the past year.

[Canevision]

On the Bears boards, they know how excited I am for this kid. He had the ability to play big time IMO, and will be exactly the type of player we needed to sign. He doesn't shoot the three, but for a 2/3 to shoot over 63% from the field, it shows he can get his own shot and get to the rim. Something we've lacked since Merril Andrews left.

[smsandmsuson]

On the Bears boards, they know how excited I am for this kid. He had the ability to play big time IMO, and will be exactly the type of player we needed to sign. He doesn't shoot the three, but for a 2/3 to shoot over 63% from the field, it shows he can get his own shot and get to the rim. Something we've lacked since Merril Andrews left.

Agreed. Screw a deep threat. Give me someone who will take it to the hole and finish instead of looking for the foul.

[LincolnJay]

No disrespect intended but don't the Baaaaars have a lot of 6'4, 6'5 guys on the team?

[Canevision]

No disrespect intended but don't the Baaaaars have a lot of 6'4, 6'5 guys on the team?

Not that play the two and can get to the rack...

[douglasdmb]

Someone at LGB said that they interviewed Cooks' coach tonight. The guy said that many teams didn't recruit him because they didn't know where to put him on the floor. Evidently, though, he got an offer from Iowa just recently, but turned it down.

[LincolnJay]

Not that play the two and can get to the rack...

Getting to the rack is great and a needed skill on a team but I note that this kid was 0-0 from the 3 line! My guess is his range is, er, um, limited and I would guess he would be a lot like Martin from WSU - an undersized post.

[TNMSUFAN]

Getting to the rack is great and a needed skill on a team but I note that this kid was 0-0 from the 3 line! My guess is his range is, er, um, limited and I would guess he would be a lot like Martin from WSU - an undersized post.

LJ he isn't an undersized post. Cooks is a 2/3 slasher that handles the ball very well and is very quick. His coach said he didn't need to shoot the three in juco because he could get by anyone that was covering him and that he had an uncanny ability to get to the rim. The coach also said Chris knows he won't be able to do that at this level so he has been working on the 3 point shot every day since the season ended.

We really needed this type of player because he is similar to Mitchell except a better ball handler/passer plus the kid is very tough minded and has a non stop motor. Also, we got another athlete that could create his own shot plus defend the other team's best player.

[DoubleJayAlum]

LJ he isn't an undersized post. Cooks is a 2/3 slasher that handles the ball very well and is very quick. His coach said he didn't need to shoot the three in juco because he could get by anyone that was covering him and that he had an uncanny ability to get to the rim. The coach also said Chris knows he won't be able to do that at this level so he has been working on the 3 point shot every day since the season ended.

We really needed this type of player because he is similar to Mitchell except a better ball handler/passer plus the kid is very tough minded and has a non stop motor. Also, we got another athlete that could create his own shot plus defend the other team's best player.

Sounds like an anti-Ahern. :grin:

[TNMSUFAN]

Sounds like an anti-Ahern. :grin:

Kind of funny but several Scouts I have talked to said he was a Nick Porter type player

[Canevision]

Kind of funny but several Scouts I have talked to said he was a Nick Porter type player

That's what I read as well. I get the two guard comments from listening to his coach.

He did say several schools didn't recruit him out of HS because they didn't know where to play him. Coach said they played him at the two spot, with some occasional three. Out of JUCO he said his recruiting was really picking up and several high majors had begun to contact him, and Iowa offered but he said no. Iowa's new coach recruited him at Butler and ran a three point heavy offense, and he thought Cooks could fit into his offense fine obviously.

He is not an undersized post at all. He is an athletic two guard/wing type player that is quick, can handle the ball, defend, and pass very well.

His three point shooting is most definitely a concern of mine, but since he was 0-0 it tells me he either can't shoot out there, or didn't need to. I'm hoping for the latter.

Shooting 63% as a two guard/SF tells me he can get to the rack though.

[DawgFan]

Sounds like one of Berruhs' final recruits at Springpatch.

[Canevision]

Sounds like one of Berruhs' final recruits at Springpatch.

One can only dream...

[chuckywang]

Doesn't Redlands play the Grinnell style of basketball: ie, full court press the entire time and then on offense take a three as quick as you can?

[salukibob]

Sounds like one of Berruhs' final recruits at Springpatch.

I don't know. With The Turgeonator now gone, this might be one more step in that march to MVC COY!!!

[Canevision]

Doesn't Redlands play the Grinnell style of basketball: ie, full court press the entire time and then on offense take a three as quick as you can?

I don't know their offense, but I know Cooks didn't attempt one all year, and led them in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.

If that were the case, it'd be hard for him to lead them in scoring I'd imagine.