The Oregon Ducks’ men’s basketball team has landed just their second top-five recruit by ESPN’s database since that database’s launch in 2007. Their first was Bol Bol, who was ranked No. 4 in 2018. Their second is Mookie Cook, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Portland, Oregon, who’s a junior at Arizona Compass Prep and is ranked No. 5 in the current ESPN 100 for the 2023 class, No. 2 at his position. (He’s ranked No. 6 in the On3 consensus rankings.)
Cook chose Oregon over Kentucky and Gonzaga, but also received offers from many other powerhouse schools, including Kansas and Michigan. He’s the Ducks’ second 2023 commit, joining point guard Jackson Shelstad. And he follows his sister Chaquinn, who competed in triple jump and long jump for Oregon from 2017-19. Here’s more on that from ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi:
“I know where I want to go and the timing is perfect for me,” Cook told ESPN. “I visited all three schools. Coach [Dana] Altman came to see me play in the eighth grade at the Les Schwab event. Since then he has been recruiting me … I was always on campus and I love their facilities.”
…”Coach Altman is a cool guy,” Cook said. “He’s laid-back but serious on the court. He is a very receptive person. He listens to his players in-game. Assistant coach Mike Mennenga stayed in strong communication with me the whole process. We built a great relationship.”
…Cook is Oregon’s second commitment in 2023, joining ESPN 60 point guard Jackson Shelstad. The Ducks’ top target in the class is No. 2 overall junior Kwame Evans.
“I also have known Jackson Shelstad since I was in the fourth grade. So I am excited to play with him,” Cook said. “I hope we can bring Kwame Evans Jr. too.”
While the Ducks’ men’s basketball team under Altman (who’s been coaching there since 2010, posting a 300–124 record) has consistently recruited pretty well, it’s certainly notable to see them landing their second top-five prospect in Altman’s tenure. It definitely helps that Cook grew up in state and that his sister went to Oregon, but neither of those factors tends to be a lock for a prospect this coveted. So this is a big recruiting win for Altman and the Ducks. And now we’ll see if they can add to it and land Evans as well.
[ESPN; player-submitted photo via On3]
