PeachStateTV Featured Player Evaluation: Te’a Cooper

Te’a Cooper of Powder Springs, Ga., has already established herself as one of the premier players nationwide in the 2015 class. *Photo by Ty Freeman

Te’a Cooper of Powder Springs, Ga., has emerged as arguably the nation’s premier point guard in the class of 2015. The North Carolina verbal can create for herself off of the bounce or facilitate for her teammates making her an ELITE 25 prospect nationally.

By: @BrandonClayPSB

Vitals

Name: Te’a Cooper – Grad Year: 2015
Location: Powder Springs, Ga. – School: McEachern HS
Current Position: PG – Projected Position: PG

Strengths

Cooper’s ability to defend any perimeter position adds to her value on the floor. *Photo by Ty Freeman

The 5-foot-6 point guard is as physically strong as any guard in the class. Her smooth handle coupled with her strength allows her to get into the paint, take contact from the post game and still finish the play with a basket. She’s a true table-setting floor general who doesn’t shy away from having the basketball in her hands versus pressure in key situations. As a freshman, Cooper quarterbacked McEachern High to a No. 2 ranking nationally and a GHSA Class AAAAA state championship. Defensively, Cooper is more than willing to lockdown the other team’s most potent offensive perimeter threat whether that’s on or off of the basketball.

Area To Improve

If Cooper has an achilles heel, it’s her ability to consistently knock down the open 3-pointer. She has been working on that in her skill development sessions. Her percentages have increased over the past three summers but it is still an area where the five-star prospect can improve her game. Players at all levels with Cooper’s skill to make plays off the bounce in traffic have to spend time on their outside jumper as they progress into playing elite level competition on a consistent basis.

The Bottom Line

Cooper is the type of point guard who can control the pace of the game for better part of the first 36 minutes with her passing and defense then turn on the jets for the last four to win the game with a couple of key baskets. She has a chance to be the best player at her position if not overall in the class.

#PeachStateTV: Brandon Clay takes a look at Elite Basketball Academy All-American & the nation’s No. 1 point guard Te’a Cooper’s game:

Brandon Clay is the publisher of the JumpOffPlus.com and the owner of Peach State Basketball, Inc. The service is picked up by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the EBA Fab Five and Super 64 Camps. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001 as an evaluator, event operator and trainer. You can reach him at [email protected]