Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Robbinsdale Cooper

<p>Cooper went 19-6 a season ago and bring the majority of their talent plus added a talented transfer.  Cooper is definitely a contender for their league, section, and state.</p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20 (19-6):  </strong>St Paul Johnson, Waconia, Chaska, Cristo Rey, Mpls Southwest</p> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Champlin Park, Tartan, Plainview/Elgin-Millville, Chaska, Hopkins, St. Louis Park</p> <p><strong>Moving On:  </strong>Cooper’s big man Damari Bankhead scored ten a game last year and he’s a key loss.  He scored ten points a game, battled guys in the post, rebounded, and set monster ball screens for his talented guard teammates.  Bankhead and deep bench reserve Sherrod Russell are the only graduating players from last year but Bankhead was a key piece in his role and it’s not as easy to replace as some may think. </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>: Cooper returns four starters: 6’0 junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958641" first="Davion" last="Evans"]</strong> who scored 13 a contest, 6’0 senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567080" first="Broderick" last="Powell Jr"]</strong> who scored ten a game last season, 6’0 senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774856" first="Tyson" last="Dallas"]</strong> who scored 12 a game, and long 6’4 junior forward <strong>David Connors</strong> who finished the season as a starter.  Six-foot-0 senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774788" first="Majay" last="Murphy"]</strong> was the starter through late January but didn’t play in February which is when Connors stepped into the starting spot. </p> <p>This is a four player guard/wing group that comes at you in waves.  Powell is the main ball handler but Evans, Murphy, and Dallas can all take the ball at the rim and produce double digit scoring numbers as well.  Powell is the catalyst on both ends with his passing, dribble attacks, and ball pressure.  Evans is the main scoring option with a confidence level that is through the roof while Dallas is that combo playmaker. Both are so dangerous attacking off ball screens as they can change directions on a dime.  Murphy has shown to be a slasher and with bigger wings often having to guard him Murphy is able to take them off the bounce. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>The beauty of Cooper is that they come at you in waves and they just keep coming.  They have three players that stepped off the bench last year and put 3-4 buckets on the board on a nightly basis.  And all three are back to make this team one of the deeper experienced squads in Minnesota.  Those players are speedy 5’8 senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957224" first="Anthony" last="Clay-Traczyk"]</strong>, 6’4 senior <strong>Jeffrey Cooper</strong>, and 6’0 junior guard <strong>Prince Appiah</strong>.  Cooper is extremely valuable because his size is greatly needed.  Prince is an up and comer that will be a big scoring piece on next year’s team with Evans and Connors.  Clay-Traczyk scored like a starter and would start at many school. Another junior player of note is <strong>Joseph Russell</strong>, a 6’0 guard that played that 9th man role a season ago plus had some big games on the JV in the past as well.  </p> <p><strong>Transferring In</strong>.  One of the most important transfers this year was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774791" first="David" last="Osayameh"]</strong> from Coon Rapids to Cooper.  David scored a dozen a game at Coon Rapids as a sophomore but didn’t play last year.  He resurfaced this summer actively getting double-doubles for Team Get Shook and if he get those numbers for Cooper up front it would be huge for their team.  Osayameh surely has the talent to start and he is the type of piece that could make this a top ten team. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV: </strong>With nine guys back from the varsity last year plus a top transfer with the talent to be the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, there won’t be much room for guys from the JV to grab a varsity spot.  That said junior guards <strong>Terrence Matthews </strong>and<strong> Kenneth Ward</strong> can provide solid depth. Six-foot-4 senior big <strong>Travis Watson</strong> could play a role as well with 6-foot-4 size at the center spot.  </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>: Cooper interests me a lot coming into the year.  They have been going head to head with Chaska year after year in the Metro West and this year will be no different.  When you look at their losses from a season ago, you can see where the youth of their team may have come into play against a PEM and St. Louis Park.  Those are games they likely won’t lose this year, and they will be able to go toe to toe with anybody they face on the schedule.  Their guard numbers are endless, I think Osayameh will give them a ton, and the team is deep with upperclassmen.  The sky is the limit really, the lone issue is size up front in relation to other top AAAA teams.  But that can be countered with the right type of guard chemistry.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>