Minus dunk, Cook shines in victory
Future Ohio State player scores 17 points to help West win McDonald's game
By
Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News
SAN DIEGO | Daequan Cook knew it was too good to be true.
The Dunbar senior was having a major impact in Wednesday night's McDonald's All-American basketball game, which his West team won, 112-94.
He was on his way to hitting five 3-pointers and 17 points — second-most of any player — to the roaring approval of 11,950 in Cox Arena.
Now Cook had his chance to throw down a dunk to cap the night.
Clank.
"I don't know how I missed that," Cook said. "I just wanted it too bad, I think. That's what it was. I wanted it so bad, I missed it."
That was about the only thing Cook didn't do well. He made 6-of-13 shots including 5-of-9 from 3-point land. He also had two assists, including a nice tip-pass for a dunk, and one steal in 19 minutes.
The West team trailed 44-24 and future Ohio State teammate Greg Oden (Lawrence North in Indiana) was dominating. The 7-foot-1 center had 10 points, five rebounds and four blocks. All the blocks came in the game's first seven minutes.
Co-MVPs Kevin Durant (Texas recruit) scored 25 points and San Diego hometown favorite Chase Budinger (Arizona) had 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Those two rallied the West within 55-48 at halftime.
Then it was Cook's time.
He started the half with a steal, then hit a 3-pointer and assisted on a teammate's dunk. He then drained two more deep 3s for a 61-59 lead. "One was like 25 or 26 feet out," Cook grinned. "I was just feeling it. I was in the zone."
The game changed from a battle inside to a transition game and outside shooting. Trailing 76-72, the West went on a 17-0 run for an 89-76 lead.
"He was really the momentum-changer in the game that helped spark that comeback," West teammate and Washington recruit Spencer Hawes said. "I hadn't seen anything about him except a little video. I was real impressed with how he played."
As the West team drilled 3-pointers (14 of 32), the East missed (6 of 24) and didn't get the ball much to Oden, who aggravated a right wrist injury.
"Our game plan in the second half was penetrate and kick, that's what we started doing and we just started knocking down shots," Budinger said. "I played against (Cook), never with him. We had some battles in the (summer) season."
Even after his dunk misfired, Cook hit about a 25-footer before the night was over.
"I think he should have got co-MVP," Oden said of Cook. "He carried them a lot. When they needed a big basket, he gave it to them. He was just letting it go."
The East was led by Duke recruit Gerald Henderson Jr. (16 points), Georgia Tech recruit Thaddeus Young (14), North Carolina recruit Brandan Wright (12) and Oden (10). The other Ohio State recruit, Lawrence North's Mike Conley, was held scoreless in just eight minutes.
After the game, Cook was congratulated by several players and by ESPN analyst Jay Williams.
West coach Harvey Kitani (Los Angeles Fairfax) said of Cook: "He's a terrific player. Ohio State's got themselves a great player. He'll be a pro player."
• Of Oden, Kitani said: "At the end of next year, when he finishes (one year) of college, he'll be the best big man around in college."
Hawes didn't back down from Oden and thinks this may be the first of many duels. "I hope so," Hawes said. "I hope we can get as many games in — college, professional — as I can. I love going up against the best and challenging myself."
• The West girls won 80-76. Jayne Appel was named MVP after getting 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
• Next year's McDonald's All-American Games will be in Louisville.
Contact Mark Gokavi at (937) 225-6951.
