UCLA 2011 Target 6-1 180 PG Quinn Cook (DeMatha, MD)

Quinn Cook working hard
by Canyon Allis
Wildcats Sports Report
Posted on August 4, 2010


Quinn Cook is one of the best point guards in the country. He was in Gilbert, Arizona a week ago showing off his skills at the Desert Duel, at Mesquite High School. The tournament hosted some of the best AAU teams from all over the country. While many of the players were there trying to impress all of the college scouts and coaches that were on hand, Cook was not one of them.

Cook really does not need to impress the coaches. He has already done his fair share of impressing and he will be a top recruit no matter how he did at this tournament. In fact the coach of Cook’s AAU team, The DC Assault, actually was trying to showcase another top guard on his team, Jerome Seagears, in the first couple games of the tournament. Cook did play a lot as the DC Assault played into the tournament’s semifinals.

Many of their games were close and that gave Cook a chance show off what he can do when the games is on the line. When playing in the quarterfinals, Cook turned it up late. He made a three to tie the game right before the clock ran out. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he did it right after getting poked in the eye. The shot sent the game into overtime. Then it ended up in double overtime. That is when Quinn went to the line and made the winning free throw.

“I take great pride in being the guy with the ball in his hands when the game is on the line,” Cook said of his ability to step up late in tight games. “Big time players make big time plays, and you always want to be the guy with the ball at the end.”

He definitely showed that at the end of a couple games. In the semifinals his team was down handily when he led them charging back. He had a four-point play with three minutes left. It ended up not being enough as they lost the game but Quinn showed why so many coaches are recruiting him.

Of all the schools that are recruiting, he told me that “Arizona, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Wake Forest, Georgetown are just a few that I am considering.”

He said that he had never been to Tucson but had been to Phoenix twice for the same tournament. Cook plans on using all of his official visits and hopes to narrow the choices down in the fall.

Cook came up big late in games for the DC Assault
Cook comes off very well in interviews. Just by talking to Quinn you can tell he is a smart guy. He is confident in his game but isn’t cocky. He is thoughtful in his approach to answering questions, even this late in the summer when he has been bombarded by the media. He knows he is talented but also knows that to great at he next level is going to take a lot of work.

“I need to improve on my rebounding, my defense, and I always want to improve my three point shot,” Cook explained. He also mentioned that he wants to work on all aspects of his game including his stronger attributes like speed, passing, and ball handling.

Cook is clearly one of the best players in the 2011 class, but he isn’t settling for the accolades he’s received on the recruiting scene. His work ethic and willingness to learn, make him a player that seems all but certain of succeeding on the next level and beyond.