Lenny Cooke
Encyclopedia
Lenny Cooke is an American former high school and professional basketball
player. He is known primarily for being an early entry candidate in the 2002 NBA Draft
. He had averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks per game in his junior year of high school. Following his junior year in high school, he averaged 31.5 points for the first eight games of his senior year. When he turned 19 in 2001, he was academically ineligible to play according to high school athletics' rules in his home county in New Jersey.
as a senior by accidentally exhausting his high school eligibility. Cooke attended La Salle Academy in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City from 1999-2000. He then achieved an average 30 points and 15 rebounds. Cooke went to Northern Valley Regional High School located in Old Tappan, New Jersey
, from 2000 to February 2002. Next, he attended Mott Adult High School in Flint, Michigan
in February and March 2002, though did not play basketball. At Franklin K. Lane High School, in Brooklyn
, he was honored as Freshman of the Year. He earned MVP honors in the 2000 Adidas ABCD camp. He scored 21 points to help the Eastern Conference defeat the West 115-103, at the EA Sports
Roundball Classic at the United Center in Chicago on March 8, 2002. Lenny Cooke was rated #4 High School Player in the United States in the Prep Stars Recruiter’s Handbook.
, Seton Hall
, St. John's
, Miami
and Ohio State. However, Cooke chose to declare himself eligible for the 2002 NBA Draft
, though he went undrafted. When all 29 of the NBA teams passed on Cooke in both rounds, he would turn to joining the Rucker Park
Summer League in New York, playing for the Terror Squad team.
Later that same year, he was drafted by the Columbus Riverdragons of the NBDL. Additionally, Lenny tried out for the Brevard Blue Ducks of the USBL in April 2003. Next, he was signed to the Brooklyn Kings
in May, also within the USBL. In 15 games, he averaged 28.8 points and more than nine rebounds per game.
Later that year, Lenny was back to the Rucker Park Summer League. Then, he found himself playing in the Philippine Basketball Association
for the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs. In addition, Cooke was signed with the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks in December 2003. Lenny averaged 16.7 points and a near seven rebounds per game. By 2004, he had returned to the PBA's Purefoods team but suffered his second injury with the team in the season opener and was out for the rest of the tournament. After not being drafted to the NBA, via age limit, he continued to work out. Cooke most recently played for the Minot Skyrockets
of the CBA
in 2006-07.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He is known primarily for being an early entry candidate in the 2002 NBA Draft
2002 NBA Draft
The 2002 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North...
. He had averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks per game in his junior year of high school. Following his junior year in high school, he averaged 31.5 points for the first eight games of his senior year. When he turned 19 in 2001, he was academically ineligible to play according to high school athletics' rules in his home county in New Jersey.
Biography
Cooke could not play organized high school basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
as a senior by accidentally exhausting his high school eligibility. Cooke attended La Salle Academy in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City from 1999-2000. He then achieved an average 30 points and 15 rebounds. Cooke went to Northern Valley Regional High School located in Old Tappan, New Jersey
Old Tappan, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,750 people. The population density was 1,725.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 74.8% Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics...
, from 2000 to February 2002. Next, he attended Mott Adult High School in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
in February and March 2002, though did not play basketball. At Franklin K. Lane High School, in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, he was honored as Freshman of the Year. He earned MVP honors in the 2000 Adidas ABCD camp. He scored 21 points to help the Eastern Conference defeat the West 115-103, at the EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
Roundball Classic at the United Center in Chicago on March 8, 2002. Lenny Cooke was rated #4 High School Player in the United States in the Prep Stars Recruiter’s Handbook.
Career
Cooke himself had other options for basketball: North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, Seton Hall
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
, St. John's
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
, Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
and Ohio State. However, Cooke chose to declare himself eligible for the 2002 NBA Draft
2002 NBA Draft
The 2002 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North...
, though he went undrafted. When all 29 of the NBA teams passed on Cooke in both rounds, he would turn to joining the Rucker Park
Rucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
Summer League in New York, playing for the Terror Squad team.
Later that same year, he was drafted by the Columbus Riverdragons of the NBDL. Additionally, Lenny tried out for the Brevard Blue Ducks of the USBL in April 2003. Next, he was signed to the Brooklyn Kings
Brooklyn Kings
The Brooklyn Kings are a United States Basketball League franchise in Brooklyn, New York. They play in Downtown Brooklyn, on the main campus of Long Island University. They started play in 1999. The league suspended operations after the 2007 season and the team has been inactive since then.-...
in May, also within the USBL. In 15 games, he averaged 28.8 points and more than nine rebounds per game.
Later that year, Lenny was back to the Rucker Park Summer League. Then, he found himself playing in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
for the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs. In addition, Cooke was signed with the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks in December 2003. Lenny averaged 16.7 points and a near seven rebounds per game. By 2004, he had returned to the PBA's Purefoods team but suffered his second injury with the team in the season opener and was out for the rest of the tournament. After not being drafted to the NBA, via age limit, he continued to work out. Cooke most recently played for the Minot Skyrockets
Minot SkyRockets
The Minot SkyRockets were a team in the Continental Basketball Association. They played their home games at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The team began play in 2005 as the San Jose Skyrockets of the American Basketball Association. The team had a very successful first season, finishing first...
of the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
in 2006-07.
2003 awards and accomplishments
- League scoring title
- Rookie of the Year
- All-USBL Second Team
- All-Rookie Team
- League Steals Leader
- League Offensive Rebounds Leader
- League Field Goals Leader
- League Free Throws Leader
- Two-Time Player of the Week
- Two-Time Rookie of the Week
- Most Points: Single Game, Most Field Goals: Single Game, Most Free Throws Made: Single Game