SG Daequan Cook (Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona - Israel)

[osugrad21]

DDN

Cook's next step
Daequan Cook averaged 15.9 points in Ohio State's first 13 games and 7.7 in the last 12. Part of that is Greg Oden's return and Mike Conley Jr.'s scoring.
But Matta said it also has to do with scouting. "Your No. 1 move is going to be taken away ? let's give the other team credit," Matta said. "Now you've got to be able to counter and do those things. (Cook) can do that."
Cook is second (.457) in Big Ten 3-point shooting. But Matta said the Dunbar High School product can hit midrange shots and drive more: "When he puts his entire game together ? he's knocking down 3s; he's driving, finishing, getting fouled ? I think he's a great player."

 

[jimotis4heisman]

i think some of you guys are a little late on criticizes his defense. hes turned the corner. im not saying hes become a stopper, but both msu games he took morgan out of his game. something is to be said about that. the key is smart defense, not picking up these fouls away from the basket and off the ball, not gambling and consitency. cook has struggled with what ill call focus, or playing defense for entire trips down the court and playing that way every trip down the court. but, most of you guys are late and he has really improved in both percentage of trips down the floor he brings it and playing good d the whole time hes on the def end

 

[MaxBuck]

Cook is a very good on-ball defender; his overall defensive game suffers when he's asked to hedge or switch. Much like many of our other players.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Although his numbers may be down.....I feel like he has been very good overall the past 5 games....I like his game and I see some adjustments on his part....give him some time. He is capable of exploding offensively at any moment in the game.....

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

OHIO STATE MEN



Daequan cooks up plan: 1 or 2 more years



Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Doug Lesmerises

Plain Dealer Reporter
Daequan Cook guarantees he'll be back at Ohio State next year.
That might seem like an obvious stance for a men's basketball freshman averaging 7.4 points in his past 10 games, but the Dayton native came to Ohio State followed by a lot of early NBA speculation. Not nearly as much as OSU center Greg Oden, but for a 6-5, 210-pound physically mature guard who can shoot inside and out, it was there.
"You want to enjoy college," Cook said Tuesday. "It'll be a year or two more. There's a lot I have to work on, especially getting bigger and stronger and getting more mature on both ends."


Cont'd...

 

[Golferdow01]

Well, it's always nice to get verbal confirmation, not like we didn't assume that already. One down, and one to go :)

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

There's a lot I have to work on, especially getting bigger and stronger and getting more mature on both ends."

It is great to see that he understands he has work to do and he does need to get stronger....this is great news for next year.

 

[bucknutz]

Great news. I love how these kids don't have the big heads and know they can get better.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I am just not ready to get real excited, we have seen this b4, If Cook has a good tourney we go far and he has a couple big games his stock will skyrocket, and then the agents and money come calling...

Either way it is great news at the time, as I have been of the thinking that he would leave for sure, but this does give me a lot of hope and I think that the chances of him coming back are about 90-10, b4 hand I would of put it at aobut 70-30 for him leaving...

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I am just not ready to get real excited, we have seen this b4, If Cook has a good tourney we go far and he has a couple big games his stock will skyrocket, and then the agents and money come calling...

Either way it is great news at the time, as I have been of the thinking that he would leave for sure, but this does give me a lot of hope and I think that the chances of him coming back are about 90-10, b4 hand I would of put it at aobut 70-30 for him leaving...

likely conley sr. will be the agent i assume...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I have been saying for awhile now that he needs some development before he enters the draft......lottery picks do not vanish during games....they dominate.

 

[LitlBuck]

I am just not ready to get real excited, we have seen this b4, If Cook has a good tourney we go far and he has a couple big games his stock will skyrocket, and then the agents and money come calling...

I don't think two or three good games is going to raises his stock that high that he will declare. If he had performed throughout the season, I could see it but he has not been consistent all year. He also needs to improve a little bit defensively even though the NBA doesn't play defense.

I will admit offensively his game is probably more suited for the NBA than in the other Ohio State player.

 

[Cornerback6]

Great to know. Pleasant surprise in the middle of my day.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

likely conley sr. will be the agent i assume...

If this is true, presumably Conley Sr. will be a voice of reason that DC and the others will listen to.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I have been saying for awhile now that he needs some development before he enters the draft......lottery picks do not vanish during games....they dominate.

Rudy Gay, Marvin Williams...

I don't think two or three good games is going to raises his stock that high that he will declare. If he had performed throughout the season, I could see it but he has not been consistent all year. He also needs to improve a little bit defensively even though the NBA doesn't play defense.

I will admit offensively his game is probably more suited for the NBA than in the other Ohio State player.

The thing is they have seen him perform at times and he isnt getting a whole lot of minutes to really put up stats that he is capable of...If he was the main man and getting minutes like Durant, you don't think that he could be putting up 20 pts 8 rbs a game...

The thing is that we are so deep he is the 6th man and considering that we have guys to put in if he is struggle so he is not getting all the minutes to fight thru some of his struggles...You have to believe that NBA realizes this...