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Daequan Cook profile
Drafted #21 in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Heat
RCSI: 14 (2006)
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
Weight: 203 lbs (92 kg)
Position: SG
High School: Dunbar High School (Ohio)
Hometown: Dayton, OH
AAU: Indy Heat
College: Ohio St
Current Team: Ironi Nes-Ziona
Win - Loss: 8 - 9

Articles

Orlando Pre-Draft Camp: Final Recap

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Joseph Treutlein
Joseph Treutlein
Jonathan Watters
Jonathan Watters
Jun 04, 2007, 01:54 am
Daequan Cook was the highest ranked prospect on our 2007 mock draft coming into the camp, and while he didn’t consistently play to that level, he showed flashes of how dynamic a scorer he can be, putting everything together in his final game for what was one of the most dominant individual performances here. Cook already can score the ball at an NBA level, and with the trend towards undersized shooting guards of late, he has a very good chance to make significant contributions for a team in his future. The most notable thing about his scoring ability is how he can hit a shot with a hand in his face and how he’s so strong and able to hit shots nearly effortlessly from long range, as easy as he does from 10-15 feet out. Cook showed some nice ability with his floaters and pull-up jumpers from mid range, but he didn’t really get to show how deadly he can be hitting from long range when he gets on a roll, something that’s tough to do here when you’re playing in five-minute shifts and plays aren’t being run for you.

In terms of things Cook brings to the table other than scoring, he’s not really going to wow you in any other area just yet. He shows some nice vision and passing ability at times, but he doesn’t have the making of being a point guard or even a combo guard unless he makes some drastic changes, though he should be a pretty good passer for a two-guard at the next level. Cook did a solid job on the defensive end, but at 6’4, he’ll be at a bit of a disadvantage at the next level, even with his good physical tools. The area Cook needs to work on the most would definitely be his ball-handling, as being able to create for himself would definitely take his game to the next level, and it’s something many teams would want an undersized scoring guard to possess. He can do some nice things off one or two dribbles, sometimes more, but doesn’t look very comfortable when handling the ball for much more than that, and he may have trouble with that at the next level.

Cook projects as a late first or early second rounder if he remains in the draft this year, as all indications say he will. Some teams may shy away from him because he still has things to develop and because of how the final half of his freshman season turned out at Ohio State. But for whatever team that does take him now, before he has the chance to fully develop and rise up the draft charts, something he’d likely have done had he gone back to school, they will have pretty good value to look forward to a few years down the road, if Cook doesn’t make contributions sooner. It’s tough to see Cook falling very far into the second round, if he even does, just because it’s not easy to leave as dynamic a player on the board for long.

Orlando Pre-Draft Camp: Day Four

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Joseph Treutlein
Joseph Treutlein
Jun 03, 2007, 03:30 am
After two underwhelming performances in his first games, relative to the level of prospect he is, Daequan Cook finally put things together in his final game, but unfortunately most of the executives and scouts weren’t around to see it. Cook scored the most points in an individual game of any player in the camp, sharing that honor with Coleman Collins, and Cook looked very impressive hitting all nine of his made field goals.

Cook was getting his scoring done mostly from mid and long range today, doing so off a variety of moves, showing how dynamic a scorer he can be when his shot is on. He started off the game by missing a contested 15 footer, but bounced back quickly, hitting on his next three field goal attempts, showing excellent touch and composure from the mid-range. First he went off one dribble into a turnaround, contested jumper from 10 feet out, then he hit two floaters, one from 10 feet and one from five feet in transition, banking it off the glass with perfect touch. As the game went on, Cook extended his range, hitting on two three-pointers, one from 25 feet out with the shot clock winding down and one by pulling up with a hand in his face. He hit on another pull-up shot from 20 feet out as well, to go along with an 18 foot stepback shot off a jabstep that he sold very well. Cook also hit on some other shots from the 15-18 feet range in the game, which is where most of his misses came from as well. One thing to be really impressed with about Cook’s shooting from any range is how effortless he makes it look, making his moves quickly and not being bothered by hands in his face. Shots that would be difficult for other players, Cook converts at a good clip, as he has really good strength on his shot and keeps his mechanics consistent on long-range shots and shots where he’s fading away or pulling up.

Cook didn’t really impact the game in many other ways, but he did make a few nice passes, not forcing the issue with his shot and adjusting in mid-air on a couple of occasions to make a pass out, avoiding a turnover or a poor shot attempt. He had no trouble making entry passes when he did, and also picked up two assists, one on a perfectly thrown alley-oop lob in transition and the other coming on a mini drive-and-dish kickout in transition, making the pass despite being amidst a crowd of defenders.

Cook didn’t get off to a good start at the camp, but he showed here how dynamic a scorer he can be, and how he can do it against this level of competition, so all things considered, his stock probably didn’t fall or rise much, as it’s very commonplace for even the best scorers to have some off days, as Cook did in his first two games. If he chooses to remain in the draft, he’s likely a late first or early second round pick unless someone falls in love with him, and that could be very nice value for some team willing to take their time letting him develop, as with another season or two in college, he could certainly be projected higher in future drafts.

Orlando Pre-Draft Camp: Day Three

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Joseph Treutlein
Joseph Treutlein
Jonathan Watters
Jonathan Watters
Jun 01, 2007, 02:29 am
It was another up and down performance from Cook. There were moments when he looked spectacular, like a slashing baseline score in the first half and a smoothly drained outside jumper in the second, but still an obvious lack of polish that most in this upperclassman-dominated field display. Cook is a sloppy ballhandler, and while he may not have registered any official turnovers, he still doesn’t appear fully comfortable with the speed of the game at this level. Nonetheless, his phenomenal instincts kick in every now and then, and the results are certainly intriguing. Cook continues to show a nose for the ball on the defensive end, and the ability to find a teammate every now and then in a nifty manner. The team that ends up drafting Cook won’t be doing it with the near-term in mind, so perhaps a few of the polish issues will be overlooked by a GM who likes the idea of drafting a player with standout potential in the late first/early second.

Oden, Cook, Landry at Champions Academy

Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Jonathan Watters
Jonathan Watters
May 27, 2007, 06:32 am
Cook is a player that has generated some significant buzz since declaring for the draft, despite a somewhat underwhelming freshman season at Ohio State. He was highly touted coming out of high school, and you probably won’t find a scout anywhere that doesn’t love his natural tools, but the NBA team that gives him first round money is going to want an answer to why his role at Ohio State diminished as the season wore on.

As one would expect, Cook sizzled in this workout setting. The elevation and effortless motion on his jump-shot are quite unique. But just as impressive was the way he continued to knock down contested jump-shots late in the workout session, as he was pressed by Jamerson to fully elevate on every shot he took. Off the dribble, fading away, set, shirt soaked with sweat – he didn’t slow down a bit. This is a prospect that is going to put on some dazzling shooting exhibitions in front of NBA decision makers between now and draft night.

His all-around scoring tools should translate over very nicely in the NBA, though there are a few things Cook can continue to work on. He doesn’t appear to have the quickest hands or tightest handle for a 6’5 NBA wing, with his left hand in particular need of continued work. Furthermore, his frame is in need of added strength so he can create the separation needed to properly utilize his midrange game at the next level.

Cook confirmed his intention to play in Orlando, and as a player nobody expects to return to college, will have a lot on the line in a very competitive environment. Going up against more mature opponents could make it tough for him to show off his all-around scoring tools in such a physical half-court environment, but Cook is a player who is more than capable of putting on a scoring exhibition that would send his stock skyrocketing.

NCAA Tournament: Stock Watch (Sweet 16, Thursday games)--Down/Neutral

Rodger Bohn
Rodger Bohn
Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Jonathan Watters
Jonathan Watters
Joey Whelan
Joey Whelan
Mar 23, 2007, 05:25 am
Cook’s inconsistent play has continued throughout the sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament with his lackluster performance against Tennessee. He is averaging little over 5 points per game in Ohio State’s three victories this season, a far cry from the nearly 16 a game he chipped in with throughout the first half of the season. The Dayton native has seen his stock absolutely plummet with each passing game, and he has done nothing to change that so far in the NCAA tourney.

The Daequan Cook that we have seen since mid-January doesn’t even resemble the player that we saw through Ohio State’s first 16 games. Early in the year, we saw a shooting guard prospect with prototypical size and a killer mentality who honestly felt like he could score on anyone in the country, and that he did leading the team in scoring throughout that timespan. Since then however, we have seen a shell of a player with no confidence and a complete lack of aggression on the offensive end, despite his immense talents on the offensive end. Against the Volunteers we saw flashes of his offensive prowess with his beautiful left handed pass to Matt Terwillinger inside and his explosive first step on a scoring drive to the rim. Aside from that, we just saw a player standing around on the offensive end and serving as a liability on the defensive end.

Given the silky smooth and complete offensive game that Cook possesses, one would expect him to snap out of the funk that he’s been in sooner or later. It is a bit disconcerting though that his poor play has lasted for 20 games, and he still has not been able to regain the form that he had early in the year. It has been widely known throughout the basketball community that Daequan and his camp were looking to bolt to the NBA after one season if possible and while that looked like quite the possibility early in the season, it would certainly not be the wisest decision for him now, unless he is able to revert back to the outstanding wing prospect that we saw early in the year for the remainder of Ohio State’s tournament run.

High School Allstar Games Recap: Player Interviews

Rodger Bohn
Rodger Bohn
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Joseph Treutlein
Joseph Treutlein
Landry Fields
Landry Fields
Apr 25, 2006, 02:20 am
DraftExpress: What kind of an impact do you think you can have next year at Ohio State?

Cook: A big impact. Especially on the offensive end, you know. The thing I need to work on is my defense, but I think I’ll have a great impact as an offensive player at Ohio State.

DraftExpress: Do you feel that the Roundball served as a great opportunity for Greg, Mike, and yourself to build some continuity with David (Lighty)?

Cook: It really gave us a chance to play with each other. I didn’t know we were going to play with each other that much. I didn’t really expect that. People probably thought it was bogus, or set up. It was good for us to play with each other and just get a little feel for how each other play on the court together.

DraftExpress: What are you looking to improve upon most before you reach Ohio State?

Cook: The aspect that I’m looking to work on most is my defense. That’s what I’m really lacking in my game.

DraftExpress: What are some of the personal goals that you’ve set for yourself next year?

Cook: Just to work hard and come to play. That’s the main two. Also to focus on working hard in the classroom.

DraftExpress: Were you happy with your performances in the McDonald’s game and then tonight in the Roundball?

Cook: Oh yeah. No question. I played my game. I let my game do the talking for me, and I didn’t force anything.

DraftExpress: Thanks a lot Daequan. Best of luck next year with the Buckeyes.

Cook: Thank you.

Roundball Classic: Game Recap

Rodger Bohn
Rodger Bohn
Apr 12, 2006, 04:00 am
The Dayton scoring machine picked up right where he left off at the McDonald’s game, finishing as the second leading scorer behind Greg Oden. His ability to score on virtually anyone on the high school level is downright amazing, but it’s more impressive that he does it without becoming a volume shooter like many players do. Cook is now a legitimate 6’5, giving him average size for an NBA SG to go along with his excellent athleticism and very complete game. All the tools are there that NBA scouts are looking for in a SG prospect, aside from the fact that Daequan plays no defense at all. Fortunately he understands that this is by far his biggest weakness, and he told DraftExpress that he is really looking to improve upon that by the time he hits Ohio State.

Draft fans really need to watch Cook, who I feel is a star in the making. There were a lot of mumblings of him entering the NBA Draft before the age limit was put in, so this is definitely a possible “one and done” type player. If he lives up to the expectations that I, along with many others have for him at Ohio State, there is a great chance that he will bolt after his freshman year for the chance of playing in the NBA.

Roundball Classic: Practice Reports

Rodger Bohn
Rodger Bohn
Apr 11, 2006, 12:45 am
In the shooting drills, Cook was hands down the best shooter in the game, as he knocked down jumper after jumper with great range and consistency. Like his teammate Oden, he seemed to be able to score on any of the East players whenever he wanted to, whether it be via a smooth take to the basket or a deep bomb from three point land. Daequan left little doubt in anyone’s mind that he will immediately be able to step in and continue his scoring prowess at the Big 10 level. He really needs to improve in the other aspects of his game, though, especially his defense, before he thinks of bolting for the NBA.

2006 McDonald's All-American Game, individual player breakdown

Rodger Bohn
Rodger Bohn
Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Mar 30, 2006, 09:39 am
The Dayton Dunbar product came out and played his game tonight, showing off his deep shooting ability and smooth scoring touch. After seeing Cook tonight, one might conclude that he is strictly a three point shooter, but that is not the case at all. Daequan is as smooth a SG as there is, able to create his own shot and score on virtually anyone from anywhere on the court. The athletic wing should be able to step in and start right away at the SG position next year at Ohio State, and look to see a whole lot of production from the Ohio native for the Buckeyes next season.

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