BrandonClayScouting.com: Prospect Eval – Te’a Cooper – November 14, 2014

Future Lady Vol Te’a Cooper has her finger on the pulse of how to play the game and she’s not letting up.
Ty Freeman / @TyPhotoG

We identified Te’a Cooper of Powder Springs, Ga., as a top shelf prospect in her age group early. Cooper lived up to the billing and is the nation’s premier point guard in the senior class per ProspectsNation.com. In June, the five-star general chose to take Interstate 75 to Knoxville to play for Holly Warlick at the University of Tennessee. Here is what the Lady Volunteer faithful can expect the 2014 Elite Basketball Academy All-American to bring to the table starting next season:

By: @BrandonClayPSB

Te’a Cooper – McEachern HS (Powder Springs, Ga.) – 2015
Height: 5’8″
Position: Point Guard
Club Team: A.O.T. / Central Florida Elite
ProspectsNation.com Grade: 5 star
Committed College: Tennessee

Click here for the Full BrandonClayScouting.com College Tour Schedule

7/12/14 – Nike Summer Showcase (Chicago, Ill.) – Mercedes Wetmore
Cooper is a get-er-done player. She can do it all. When she wants to attack the basket, she does. Her frame and build is so strong that she takes the space she wants and penetrates with pure power. She can hit shots off the bounce and off the catch. She can handle ball pressure really well and just plays like shes been there done that. Saw her hit two big FTs at the end of the game to ice it. Love her game.

5/25/14 – USA Basketball U17 Trials (Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Brandon Clay
Much like the November eval, Cooper’s growth is impressive. Her jump shot was consistent here again though still awkward in terms of the delivery. She is the premier point guard in the class right now.

11/26/13 – Turkey Jamm (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) – Brandon Clay
Cooper has grown her skill set. Though she fouled out here, she made her presence felt with a tip to steal the ball on two occasions. She took the ball coast to coast off of a rebound to finish with an And1. Off the catch, her jumper has improved leaps and bounds since her freshman season. That will always be an area that she can improve but her shot is forcing defenses to stay honest.

5/18/13 – U16 National Team Trials (Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Keil Moore
She is a dynamic point guard who can do everything on the floor. She has a WNBA type body in comparison with some of these other players. There is a question as to whether she has “maxed” out physically, but right now she is physically more gifted than her peers. Her basketball IQ and decision making is also something to be admired. She makes basketball plays and has become a better shooter in the last 18 months.

4/14/13 – PSB Pre-Season Shootout (Marietta, Ga.) – Jonathan Hemingway
She gets a check mark in every “box” when evaluating. She can dominate the game as a scorer, distributor, or a primary defender. Strong! There might not ever be a time where she will be “out-athleted.” She also delivers the blow with the ball in her hands.

9/15/12 – EBA All-American Camp (Buford, Ga.) – Stephen Peck
Cooper gets to the rim at will and continues to show herself as a crafty creator of space. She is perhaps the best handler of the ball in the nation, regardless of class and a clutch player. Has improved her jumper, but would like to see consistency in that area.

9/18/11 – EBA All-American Camp (Suwanee, Ga.) – Brandon Clay
Playing well vs older guards. Solid, great instinct with the ball. Jumper is still a two piece. Comfortable with it at 15-17 feet. Used the “Derrick Rose” split off the pick and roll time and time again.

6/12/11 – EBA Super 64 Camp (Suwanee, Ga.) – Brandon Clay
An elite athlete, she is super talented with the ball in her hand. Cooper can get to the rim against the best prospects that ’12/’13 have to offer right now. In this setting, she is hitting open jumpers. On the other end of the floor, she can really defend on ball making her a special player this early.

9/19/10 @ EBA All-American Camp (Suwanee, Ga.) – Brandon Clay
Cooper was able to hold her own against some of the top guards in the country (Banks, Davis, Brown, Carter, Burdick) as an eighth grader. In this eval, she was able to operate as a combo kid with an Allen Iverson like skill wise to girls. Her jumper is two motions, sets it by her chin. If she gets that fixed, she’s a problem. Will on ball defend, still young as far as helpline defense goes. Used to playing off talent. Driver on offense, quick to the rim off the bounce. Right handed but will go either way.

Te’a Cooper Highlight Courtesy of @KrisWatkinsPSB:

9/5/10 – Rising Stars Camp (Suwanee, Ga.) – Brandon Clay
Cooper has a body frame like Jasmine James (UGA soph) with good size and quicks. She’s a bully to little guards on defense. She’s got too much strength/lateral movement for them coupled with elite end-to-end speed. Overall, Cooper is a tough kid with a great feel for the game early.

6-19-10 – UGA Team Camp (Athens, Ga.) – Keil Moore
Has really developed her game and decision making skills. Still needs to work on shooting mechanics. Shot comes from under her chin and despite being a good athlete she doesn’t elevate on her shot.

7/30/09 – Summer Invitational (Suwanee, Ga.) – Brandon Clay
Cooper is a talented young guard with a great frame for a small guard. She has an okay release, shoots it from her chin right now. She consistently creates space and has a chance to be a tremendous defender.

7-25-09 – Best of Summer (Marietta, Ga.) – Keil Moore
A young athletic point guard with a great deal of talent, Cooper made an impression here. She is excellent with the basketball can score and set up others. It’s hard to find holes in her game considering age and talent level. She is almost always playing against players two or three years older.

Brandon Clay is the owner of the JumpOffPlus.com International Report, Peach State Basketball, Inc., and ProspectsNation.com. The JumpOffPlus.com is picked up by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001. You can reach him at [email protected]asketball.com