Oregon star freshman Mookie Cook to make college debut for Ducks
Oregon freshman stud Mookie Cook is finally returning to the court. He will make his collegiate debut on Thursday as the Ducks take on Washington, a source told On3.
The 6-foot-7 small forward and former McDonald’s All-American has been out all season to an ankle injury. The four-star recruit and Oregon native ultimately chose the Ducks over Kentucky and Gonzaga. He also received offers from Kansas, UCLA, Michigan, Memphis, and Arizona.
Oregon has been bit hard by the injury bug this season. The Ducks are currently without senior guard Jesse Zarzuela (10 PPG), senior center N’Faly Dante (16 PPG / 21 RPG), and junior center Nate Bittle (13 PPG).
Mookie Cook was a major piece in Oregon’s 2023 recruiting class that ranked 3rd nationally. Head coach Dana Altman also brought in two more elite freshmen in four-star PF Kwame Evans Jr. (No. 16 NATL) and four-star PG Jackson Shelstad (No. 26). The transfer portal was also kind to the program as they landed commitments from former Florida Southwestern State SF Jadrian Tracey, former Georgia SF Kario Oquendo, former Central Michigan CG Jesse Zarzuela, and former Stetson PF Mahamadou Diawara.
Scouting Report
“Cook has all the tools. At 6-foot-7 he has the positional size. The broad shoulders and long arms showcase a projectable frame. Cook is a functional athlete and he has a smooth release on his jump shot with range. The question mark with Cook is his consistency. He seems to get lost in the shuffle a good amount, not imposing his will on the flow of the game. Cook has a tendency to settle for jump shots. He has the dimensions and physical traits to be a good team defender. This upcoming summer will be a big one in the development of Cook figuring out who and what he is as a prospect and player. The tools are there, the upside is still immense.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw
About Mookie Cook
Mookie Cook is a star both on and off the court. Off the court, he took on the role of playing a young LeBron James in “Shooting Stars,” a movie set to be released in 2023. “As soon as I saw him,” movie director Chris Robinson told The Athletic. “I was like, this is the dude. This is him. He was so charismatic. And never having really acted before, he just kind of took to the script.” Cook went through the recruiting process twice. He originally committed to Oregon in March 2022 before backing away from the Ducks in June and eventually picking them again a few weeks later. Cook is originally from Jefferson, Oregon, and he played through his sophomore season at Jefferson High. However, he eventually moved to AZ Compass Prep after the 2021 season.