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Cooper DeJean pitches for the Hawkeyes to sign Iowa high school basketball prospect

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•04/28/25•

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Cooper DeJean - Iowa high school basketball
Former Iowa football player and Super Bowl LIX champion Cooper DeJean is interviewed on court during halftime of the Iowa women’s basketball game against UCLA Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (© Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Cooper DeJean is starting to make a name for himself in pro football after helping the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. As one of their up-and-coming defensive backs, he will inspire the players who will come after him.

However, while he’s only played one season in the National Football League, DeJean is already exercising his influence over his college alma mater, the University of Iowa. In one of his recent tweets, the former Hawkeye is compelling his beloved school to sign Iowa high school basketball standout Jaidy Coon.

Cooper DeJean commented on a photo of Coon with Iowa basketball coach Ben McCollum, “NW Iowa to the University of Iowa make it happen.”

The recruitment race for Coon can be competitive because he also received offers from TCU, Northern Iowa, Nebraska, Iowa State, Illinois, Drake, and Creighton. Fielding offers from multiple schools shouldn’t be a surprise after Coon led the Storm Lake Tornadoes to a 21-3 record and a Class 3A state tournament stint last season.

If Cooper DeJean will have his way, he would like Jaidy Coon to represent the Hawkeyes in college basketball. After all, the junior guard/forward is the complete package. As SI High School’s Dana Becker wrote, Coon averaged 24 points, 9.3 rebound, three assists, two steals, and two blocks last season. Those numbers have Coon ranked second among the Class of 2026 prospects from Iowa.

Meanwhile, Coon can learn more about basketball from DeJean, even if he’s already an NFL player. The Eagles’ cornerback played basketball for Odebolt–Arthur–Battle Creek–Ida Grove High School and was one of Iowa’s best high school basketball players. After exhausting his high school eligibility, DeJean had 1,832 points (55 more than NBA player Harrison Barnes) and 218 steals.

However, Cooper DeJean is just a natural athlete who also played baseball and athletics in high school. As he continues his career with the Eagles, he still cares about the university that helped him reach his football dreams.