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Any chance Cooper stays one more year?
Posted on 1/14/21 at 9:46 am
Posted on 1/14/21 at 9:46 am
I could see it happening, but I may just be hoping it happens.
We are going to be so good next year. Cooper staying could make us great.
He could develop a better outside shot.
Set some records.
Enjoy a deep tournament run.
Why not?
We are going to be so good next year. Cooper staying could make us great.
He could develop a better outside shot.
Set some records.
Enjoy a deep tournament run.
Why not?
Posted on 1/14/21 at 9:52 am to makersmark1
quote:
Why not?
But I could definitely see him staying, even if it's just a big 'frick you' to the NCAA. Obviously he still has some work to do on the perimeter and with an abbreviated season, he can't work on that as much. He could improve his draft stock by staying another year, but there's always the risk of injury
Posted on 1/14/21 at 9:52 am to makersmark1
ANY chance? Yes.
Likely? Nah.
Likely? Nah.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 9:57 am to makersmark1
The announcer for the game yesterday said he thinks he stays, fwiw. I think he was saying due to his size he may want to develop some more.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:10 am to makersmark1
I would think so, but I also might be hoping at this point. I did say the same thing about Okoro last year. I thought that he might want to come back and work on his shot, play with Sharife, and make a tourney run (ultimately wouldn't have been possible), and we see how that played out. Okoro needed to work on his shot as well, but his athleticism and defense made him valuable to the NBA immediately.
For Cooper the question is, can he raise his draft stock to a lottery pick. If he can, then I think he should go pro and it would really take him wanting to come back to play a full season and make a tournament run to return. Right now, Cooper is an elite level passer, but I think in order for him to be successful in the NBA he really needs to develop a a consistent jumper and work on his defense. At his size, he is really going to struggle to score around the basket in the NBA the way he currently is, and I'm not sure he is quite ready to defend elite level guards either. I personally think he could use another year to work on those aspects of his game, and a full year and tournament run next year could be huge for his draft stock.
Ultimately, we just need to keep our eye on the draft analysts and what they are saying about Cooper's NBA potential. If he starts popping up inside the top 15 picks like Okoro did last year, I don't like our chances, but I don't necessarily think that's going happen.
For Cooper the question is, can he raise his draft stock to a lottery pick. If he can, then I think he should go pro and it would really take him wanting to come back to play a full season and make a tournament run to return. Right now, Cooper is an elite level passer, but I think in order for him to be successful in the NBA he really needs to develop a a consistent jumper and work on his defense. At his size, he is really going to struggle to score around the basket in the NBA the way he currently is, and I'm not sure he is quite ready to defend elite level guards either. I personally think he could use another year to work on those aspects of his game, and a full year and tournament run next year could be huge for his draft stock.
Ultimately, we just need to keep our eye on the draft analysts and what they are saying about Cooper's NBA potential. If he starts popping up inside the top 15 picks like Okoro did last year, I don't like our chances, but I don't necessarily think that's going happen.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:16 am to ATLtiger12
One just came out this morning that had him going 14th. The two others I saw prior to him being declared eligible had him going late 1st round, early 2nd round at worst. Just don’t think there’s anyway he stays. (I wouldn’t if I was a lock for the first round).
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:19 am to makersmark1
I just want to know Pearl's backup plan so I can stop worrying about it. You don't get the #1 forward and another terrific shooter to buy in to a program that's not going to have a point guard.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:25 am to makersmark1
He's barely 6ft and doesn't shoot well from deep. His ceiling is around late mid first round even with all the amazing things he can do with the ball. He comes back and shows a quicker and higher percentage outside shot and he's a lock for the top 10.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:26 am to jsmoove
Well Trey Alexander can definitely run some point, as can Powell and Flanigan. So I think you at least have the PG depth issue solved. But you're right in that we do need one starting quality true point guard whether it be a grad transfer or JUCO or stud frosh. All we need is one!
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:33 am to makersmark1
Obviously I want him to stay but at the same time, the more and more auburn faces we get in the nba, the better for the future of the program recruiting wise.
Either way I think we are set to have a great season next year on paper. Coop is probly the difference in a sweet 16 run team and an elite 8/final 4 type team.
Either way I think we are set to have a great season next year on paper. Coop is probly the difference in a sweet 16 run team and an elite 8/final 4 type team.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:40 am to makersmark1
If he keeps going for 20+ and double digit assists per game?... no chance.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:51 am to makersmark1
I tend to think he will, given his size I have my doubts he’s a lottery pick playing 15ish games of college ball. I don’t think he will leave to be a late 1st rounder who possibly falls to the 2nd round.
If he continues to ball out every game, that could of course change. If he’s a top 20 pick he should leave.
Edit: if you look at mock drafts Cooper is anywhere from undrafted to a lottery pick, so needless to say everything is in play here.
If he continues to ball out every game, that could of course change. If he’s a top 20 pick he should leave.
Edit: if you look at mock drafts Cooper is anywhere from undrafted to a lottery pick, so needless to say everything is in play here.
This post was edited on 1/14/21 at 10:57 am
Posted on 1/14/21 at 11:10 am to Cocotheape
Cooper needs to stay and work on that 3 point shot.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 11:38 am to auburnnyc94
quote:
Well Trey Alexander can definitely run some point, as can Powell and Flanigan.
Trey can.
Powell is serviceable but not a long term answer.
Flannigan...NO.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 11:42 am to makersmark1
quote:
I could see it happening, but I may just be hoping it happens.
We are going to be so good next year. Cooper staying could make us great.
He could develop a better outside shot.
Set some records.
Enjoy a deep tournament run.
Why not?
I think he comes back. If he gets his turnovers under control then maybe not.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 12:07 pm to lowspark12
quote:
If he keeps going for 20+
He's going to have a much tougher time scoring around the basket in the NBA due to his height, so if he's not shooting 30+% from 3, that's going to be a knock on him. He's currently a 9%. Yes, that's only 2 games, so we'll see where it goes, and he's making some great shots inside now, but these aren't the defenders he'll be facing in the league inside so he's going to have to show he can shoot outside at a good clip.
This post was edited on 1/14/21 at 12:11 pm
Posted on 1/14/21 at 12:33 pm to kage
I remember his HS critique from a long breakdown video was his 3 point shooting was sometimes subpar forcing him to dribble and drive playing hero ball too much often either forcing shots or getting trapped into desperation passes.
Obviously that isn’t going to always work at his size.
I’m also selfish;I want him back another year.
Obviously that isn’t going to always work at his size.
I’m also selfish;I want him back another year.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 12:43 pm to thirdlawson
Flanigan can absolutely play some point in a backup role. In fact, ever since Cooper came back, he's looked REALLY good doing it. He just wasn't good there as the primary pg because when the other team can come out of the gate pressuring the hell out of the primary ball handler and bothering him, it can throw the whole game out of sync. But the last two games, when instead Cooper is wearing their primary on ball defenders out, the offense has looked pretty good with Flanigan manning the point to give Cooper a blow.
It's a different offense with Flanigan, much less dribble penetration obviously as he should never force that, but he is more than capable of bringing the ball up the court and getting us into our sets.
It's a different offense with Flanigan, much less dribble penetration obviously as he should never force that, but he is more than capable of bringing the ball up the court and getting us into our sets.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 1:01 pm to makersmark1
ESPN doesnt even have him listed in its top 60: LINK
Interesting note - both Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga (players who seriously considered playing for Auburn) both have top ten projections.
Interesting note - both Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga (players who seriously considered playing for Auburn) both have top ten projections.
Posted on 1/14/21 at 1:04 pm to auburnnyc94
quote:
Flanigan can absolutely play some point in a backup role. In fact, ever since Cooper came back, he's looked REALLY good doing it. He just wasn't good there as the primary pg because when the other team can come out of the gate pressuring the hell out of the primary ball handler and bothering him, it can throw the whole game out of sync. But the last two games, when instead Cooper is wearing their primary on ball defenders out, the offense has looked pretty good with Flanigan manning the point to give Cooper a blow.
It's a different offense with Flanigan, much less dribble penetration obviously as he should never force that, but he is more than capable of bringing the ball up the court and getting us into our sets.
No he can't. He's a turnover machine. This is not a knock on Flanigan at all, BTW. He has a plus handle for a three, but he should not be playing point.
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