Recruiting report: Aaron Cook (2016)
Ranked among Missouri’s best guards in the Class of 2016, Westminster’s Aaron Cook is coming off a big senior season in which he finished sixth in the St. Louis area in scoring at 22.1 points per game and helped lead…
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Continue ReadingRanked among Missouri’s best guards in the Class of 2016, Westminster’s Aaron Cook is coming off a big senior season in which he finished sixth in the St. Louis area in scoring at 22.1 points per game and helped lead the Wildcats to a 20-6 record.
A smooth, yet explosive 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard, Cook also averaged 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.9 steals, blocked 25 shots and made 36 3-pointers, while shooting 41 percent from behind the arc.
“I would describe my game as explosive yet smooth,” Cook said. “I’m not the quickest player but I like to create around the rim, get my team going, and sometimes surprise people with my ability to play above the rim and finish with dunks.”
Cook chose Southern Illinois over Central Michigan and Ohio and had offers from four other Division I programs who offered. He said the SIU coaching staff was a big factor in his decision.
“They made me genuinely feel wanted and I didn’t get that vibe from the other schools recruiting me as much as I did at SIU,” he said. ” Also it was closer to home and would give my family a chance to come down and see me play.
“I see myself fitting into SIU very well. I can bring scoring if needed and true point guard skills to the floor when I get a chance to play there next season.”
Cook showed off a smooth, yet explosive game two weekends ago at the Missouri Challenge in Springfield. One of six players initially on the St. Louis area squad, Cook had to sit out the championship game with injury, and the team won the title with just five players.
“It was a great experience playing at the Missouri Challenge,” Cook said. “It showed me some things I need to improve on going into college and helped me to get some good runs in. I knew most of the guys on my team pretty well from reputation but actually getting a chance to play with them was a lot of fun.
“We instantly had chemistry and played well together without a single day of practice before going to Springfield. It shocked me how well we played together to say the least.”
Cook spent the 2015 summer playing first for MoKan Elite and later for St. Louis Gateway and says the experience helped him grow as a player, realizing his weaknesses.
“Playing with MoKan made me realize that I didn’t have this game all the way figured out like I thought I did. It made me more humble in my approach to the game and made me hungrier to get better and reach my full potential as a player.
“My time with Gateway made me want to improve in every area people doubted me in. So before my high school season started, that’s what I did.”
Aaron Cook said the biggest influence on his game has been his father, Aaron Cook Sr.
“After every game or any time he sees me perform,” Cook said. “He breaks down to me what I could improve upon while also being very supportive and motivational. He understands what makes me perform at the best of my abilities and what inhibits my performance from game to game.
“He observes, communicates, and pushes me to get better, and that’s why he is such a big influence to my game.”
When asked about his favorite NBA players, Cook gave a throwback answer of sorts as he named former star Allen Iverson.
“He is my favorite player of all time and his style of play is always something I’ve wanted to base my game off of,” Cook said. “One thing I’ve tried to implement into my game from Allen Iverson’s game is his crossover. Ever since I was in sixth grade I have tried to perfect the Iverson crossover and now it is a move that I can use with no hesitation at all. It is by far my favorite move as well.”