Andrew Force:
Future150 National Analyst. Covering High and Middle School basketball.
Nashville, TN (Future150) -- Science already proved left-handers are innately more creative. Point guard Kenny Cooper would be an exceptional case study.
The lefty vaulted the Panthers of Franklin Road Academy (4-2) to victory Tuesday night, 58-53. Cooper scored 22 points.
In the final minute Cooper managed a four points and a steal. Though he was a part of his team relinquishing an enormous lead Cooper was the reason Franklin Academy held on for the win.
With 1:02 remaining Cooper poked the ball free from senior PG Luke Dixon. Cooper collected the basketball and trotted downcourt for the easy bucket. He also split two different pairs of free throws in the final 38 seconds.
Cooper demonstrates exceptional vision in the halfcourt sets. Many guards are credited with finding the appropriate target during the fastbreak. Cooper directs the offense and feeds the post as well as anyone in the nation.
At 6’1” he sounds undersized, but Cooper lifted weights very hard in the last year. Very few guards in middle Tennessee can deter the powerful lefty from penetrating. Perhaps his greatest strength is body control, or perhaps finishing through contact.
Recruitment
According to his father, Cooper has offers from Lipscomb and Austin Peay. Belmont Head Coach Rick Byrd has been a consistent admirer of Cooper, but the Bruins have a very specific type of guard they recruit. Cooper might suit a dribbling attack better.
Cooper is young for his grade and has not reclassified like many of his peers. He will turn 18 two months after he graduates high school. His father reports that a couple college coaches suggested redshirting Cooper right away.
The thinking is that a college basketball program would get a more fully developed, even more refined product for those next four years following an initial redshirt. Cooper’s father is more than willing to accept this approach because his son could pursue a Master’s Degree easier.
Wofford, Middle Tennessee, Miami (Oh), and Western Kentucky have expressed interest. Miami (Oh) visited his school to evaluate Cooper. This season will be important for Cooper, as he has been relatively unseen on the AAU circuit.
Cooper’s high school team runs a guard-friendly offense with many shooters. It is perfect for his skill set. More wins should follow this impressive performance.
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