Prospect Spotlight: DeMontez Cooper (2018)
Anyone who has ever been tasked with defending 5’4” point guard DeMontez Cooper (2018) understands that his lack of height doesn’t limit the damage he can do. Cooper doesn’t even really want to comment on it either, passively deflecting questions…
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Continue ReadingAnyone who has ever been tasked with defending 5’4” point guard DeMontez Cooper (2018) understands that his lack of height doesn’t limit the damage he can do. Cooper doesn’t even really want to comment on it either, passively deflecting questions about his “disadvantage.”
“Is there anything you do to make up for your height disadvantage?”
Cooper kept it short and simple, “No. Not really.”
He spent the grassroots season with the Queen City Prophets and Coach Tim Cottingham, who was impressed with the point guard during his first season as Cooper’s coach.
“He’s got the ball on a string. Nobody is going to take the ball from him. He’s low to the ground — he’s compact. He can go either way, right or left,” Coach Cottingham said.
“He’s got a strong core. He can shoot with either hand by the basket. He has strong legs, so he gets a different kind of lift and can finish through contact,” Cottingham continued.
Coach Cottingham wasn’t the only one who was dazzled by Cooper’s game this summer. The floor general from Cincinnati Woodward also impressed PHOH in Cincinnati this summer. Besides what Cottingham mentioned, the off-ball awareness and ball-spin on finishes was elite during that tournament.
As a true lead guard, Cooper is going to have the ball in his hands a decent amount of the time. However, he likes to spread the rock.
“I have a pass-first game. I like getting my team involved first, and then getting my shot,” Cooper said.
“He was a great addition to my team. He’s a funny guy, likes to have fun. On the court, he’s very serious. Loves to win … Got along with everyone on the team,” Cottingham said.
Last season, Cooper averaged 6.2 points and 2.2 assists for Cincinnati Winton Woods.
In order to jump on college radars, Cooper will have to add more of a jump shooting threat. He said he’s spending time after school working on exactly that.
He will finish up his high school career at Cincinnati Woodward, and is enjoying a smooth transition at the new school.