Derek Cooke Explained

Derek Cooke
Position:Power forward / center
Height M:2.06
Weight Kg:100
Team:Free Agent
Birth Date:1991 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
High School:Friendly
(Fort Washington, Maryland)
College:
Draft Year:2015
Career Start:2015
Years1:2015
Team1:Rethymno Cretan Kings
Years2:2015–2017
Team2:Bakersfield Jam / Northern Arizona Suns
Years3:2017–2018
Team3:Perth Wildcats
Years4:2018–2019
Team4:Northern Arizona Suns
Years5:2019
Team5:Raptors 905
Years6:2019
Team6:Hamilton Honey Badgers
Years7:2019–2020
Team7:Trieste
Years8:2020
Team8:Hamilton Honey Badgers
Years9:2021
Team9:Tsmoki-Minsk
Years10:2021
Team10:Brose Bamberg
Years11:2021–2022
Team11:Hapoel Gilboa Galil
Years12:2022–2023
Team12:Treviso Basket
Years13:2023
Team13:Skyliners Frankfurt
Years14:2023–2024
Team14:Dolomiti Energia Trento

Derek Cooke Jr. (born August 23, 1991) is an American professional basketball player who last played for Dolomiti Energia Trento of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played three years of Division I college basketball for Wyoming.

High school career

Cooke attended Friendly High School in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he was a wide receiver on the football team and did not play basketball. An NCAA qualifier after graduating, he decided to take a year off from school and also hit a growth spurt, before enrolling at Cloud County Community College to play basketball.[1]

College career

Cooke spent one year at Cloud County CC. During his freshman season, he helped the Thunderbirds to a 25–8 overall record. Cloud County went 11–5 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and advanced to the semifinals of the NJCAA Division I Region VI Tournament. Cooke notched team highs of 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 55 percent from the floor to go with 6.0 points and nearly one steal per game.

In 2012, Cooke transferred to Wyoming. During his senior season, Cooke averaged 8.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while helping the Cowboys reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002.[2]

Professional career

Rethymno Cretan Kings (2015)

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, on June 25, 2015, Cooke signed with the Rethymno Cretan Kings of the Greek Basket League.[3] However, he parted ways with the club in late October after appearing in just three games.

Northern Arizona Suns (2015–2017)

On November 2, 2015, he was acquired by the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.[4]

In July 2016, Cooke joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2016 NBA Summer League. On September 25, 2016, he signed with the Suns,[5] but was waived on October 10.[6] On October 31, 2016, he was acquired by the Northern Arizona Suns as an affiliate player of Phoenix.[7]

Perth Wildcats (2017–2018)

On July 27, 2017, Cooke signed with the Perth Wildcats for the 2017–18 NBL season.[8] He appeared in all 30 games for the Wildcats in 2017–18, averaging 5.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Second stint with Northern Arizona Suns (2018–2019)

Cooke re-joined the Northern Arizona Suns in October 2018.[9]

Raptors 905 (2019)

On January 15, 2019, the Raptors 905 acquired Cooke from the Northern Arizona Suns for Khadeem Lattin and the returning rights to Yanick Moreira.[10]

Hamilton Honey Badgers (2019)

After the conclusion of the 2018–19 NBA G League season, Cooke was drafted into the startup Canadian Elite Basketball League's Hamilton Honey Badgers,[11] where he would reunite with former Raptors 905 teammates, MiKyle McIntosh and Duane Notice.

Pallacanestro Trieste (2019–2020)

On July 14, 2019, he has signed with Pallacanestro Trieste of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[12]

Canadian Elite Basketball League (2020)

In July 2020, Cooke joined the Hamilton Honey Badgers for the 2020 CEBL season.[13]

Tsmoki-Minsk (2021)

On January 2, 2021, he signed with Tsmoki-Minsk of the VTB United League.[14]

Brose Bamberg (2021)

On July 30, 2021, he signed with Brose Bamberg of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).[15]

Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2021–2022)

On October 25, 2021, he signed with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Premier League.[16]

Treviso Basket (2022–2023)

On July 21, 2022, he has signed with Treviso Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[17]

Skyliners Frankfurt (2023)

On February 28, 2023, he signed with Skyliners Frankfurt of the Basketball Bundesliga.[18]

Aquila Basket Trento (2023–2024)

On August 5, 2023, he signed with Dolomiti Energia Trento of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bio for Derek Cooke Jr.. GoWyo.com. September 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160927033705/http://www.gowyo.com/sport/m-baskbl/2016/roster/5773e8dde4b0bdd131abc0f4. September 27, 2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Former Wyoming forward Derek Cooke Jr. signs with Greek professional team. June 24, 2015. Trib.com. November 6, 2015.
  3. Web site: Rethymno announces rookie Derek Cooke. June 25, 2015. Sportando.com. November 2, 2015.
  4. Web site: Jam Announce 2015-16 Training Camp Roster. November 2, 2015. NBA.com. November 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160811060332/http://bakersfield.dleague.nba.com/news/jam-announce-2015-16-training-camp-roster/. August 11, 2016. dead.
  5. Web site: Phoenix Suns Sign Four Players ahead of Training Camp. NBA.com. September 25, 2016. September 25, 2016.
  6. Web site: Phoenix Suns Waive Three Players to Trim Preseason Roster. NBA.com. October 10, 2016. October 10, 2016.
  7. Web site: Northern Arizona Suns Set Training Camp Roster. NBA.com. October 31, 2016. November 2, 2016. December 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221183423/http://northernarizona.dleague.nba.com/news/northern-arizona-suns-set-training-camp-roster/. dead.
  8. Web site: WILDCATS SIGN DEREK COOKE JUNIOR TO COMPLETE ROSTER. Wildcats.com.au. July 27, 2017. July 27, 2017. July 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730022315/http://www.wildcats.com.au/featured-news/wildcats-sign-derek-cooke-junior-complete-roster/. dead.
  9. Web site: Withee . Jacob . NAZ Suns Announce 2018-19 Training Camp Roster . NBA.com . October 22, 2018 . October 21, 2018 . March 26, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190326071740/https://northernarizona.gleague.nba.com/news/naz-suns-announce-2018-19-training-camp-roster/ . dead .
  10. Web site: Raptors 905 Acquire Derek Cooke Jr.. January 15, 2019. NBA.com. January 15, 2019. January 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190116200915/https://raptors905.gleague.nba.com/news/raptors-905-acquire-derek-cooke-jr/. dead.
  11. Web site: Hamilton Honey Badger's head coach breaks down the CEBL draft. CHCH. April 29, 2019. March 25, 2019.
  12. News: Derek Cooke Jr. signs with Trieste. July 14, 2019. Sportando. En. August 23, 2019. Lupo . Nicola .
  13. Web site: Honey Badgers Turn to NBA, Top International Experience in Quest to Take Next Step to CEBL Championship . honeybadgers.ca . 24 July 2020 .
  14. News: Derek Cooke Jr. signs with Tsmoki-Minsk. January 2, 2021. Sportando. En. January 2, 2021. Lupo . Nicola .
  15. News: Brose Bamberg lands Derek Cooke jr. July 30, 2021. Sportando. En. August 2, 2021. Carchia. Emiliano.
  16. News: Hapoel Galil Gilboa reportedly close to sign Derek Cooke Jr. October 25, 2021. Sportando. En. November 18, 2021. Skerletic . Dario .
  17. News: Nutribullet Treviso adds Derek Cooke jr. July 21, 2022. Sportando. En. August 8, 2022. Carchia . Emiliano .
  18. News: Derek Cooke leaves Treviso to sign with Skyliners. February 28, 2023. Sportando. En. February 28, 2023 . Maggi . Alessandro .
  19. Web site: Ecco Derek Cooke Jr. August 5, 2023. aquilabasket.it. it. August 12, 2023.