Wagner’s senior star has taken the reins with one goal in mind
JoJo Cooper watches some old friends Sundays and recalls the days when he was playing alongside Browns defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Chargers receiver Andre Patton, and Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin, traveling for football games in Indianapolis and Youngstown, Ohio, and all over the East Coast.
Occasionally, Cooper wonders what would have happened if he had continued playing cornerback, instead of becoming a full-time point guard.
“I sat down and talked to my mom, and I said, ‘I love to play basketball, but I could live without football,’ ” said Cooper, a two-sport high school star in Delaware. “There are always thoughts of what I could’ve done, but I’m happy with my decision. I wanted to possibly come back [to school] for a fifth year and play football, but the way I’m playing right now, if I could play basketball overseas, that would be ideal for me.”
Sometimes, Wagner’s senior guard still feels like he’s wearing a helmet and pads.
“Can’t you tell, the way I play defense?” Cooper cracked.
Cooper always has been among the best defenders on coach Bashir Mason’s notoriously stingy units, but the 6-foot-1 senior unexpectedly has transformed his offensive game in his final season, enabling the Seahawks (16-6, 9-2) to take control of the Northeast Conference.
Heading into Saturday’s game against St. Francis Brooklyn, Cooper leads the conference in assists (6.5 per game) — he previously never averaged more than four per game in a season — and after shooting a cumulative 32.8 percent from the field in his first three years, he now is shooting nearly 42 percent. Though Cooper never made more than 27 percent of his 3-pointers, he now is hitting better than 37 percent.
Cooper, who never scored more than 8.2 points per game in a season, now averages 14 per game and also is producing a career-best 5.6 rebounds per game, while ranking tied for second in the conference in steals (1.8) and second in minutes (36.0). He is one of only two players in the nation currently averaging at least 14 points, 5.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals (Jon Elmore, Marshall) and is on pace to join the likes of Jason Kidd, Anfernee Hardaway and Lonzo Ball as just the 10th player in the past 25 years to post those numbers.
With Cooper his lone returning starter this season, Mason told the pass-first senior he would have more responsibility as a scorer, but the sixth-year coach “honestly” didn’t envision the leap he has witnessed.
“He’s having a remarkable year, and he’s exceeded all of our expectations as coaches,” said Mason, who recently became just the third coach in Wagner history to surpass 100 career wins. “He understands we’re going through him, whether he’s playing good or not. It starts with him, and I think him knowing that and having that confidence that the coaches believe in him, I think it’s taken him to another level.
“After we watch film, he’s usually the guy to break us up or say whatever he wants to say when we go on the court. … You can hear a difference in him in how he communicates with the team, with so much more confidence.”
Led by Cooper, Wagner has won five straight games and eight of its past nine and holds a two-game lead in the standings. After going 13 years without a regular-season title, the Seahawks could win their second of the past three years and clinch home-court advantage throughout the conference tournament.
Wagner is 11-0 on its Staten Island floor this season.
“That would mean everything,” Cooper said. “As you can see, people don’t really come into our place and beat us because it’s an unreal environment. It’s just a different feel at home. We don’t want to disappoint our fans and family members.”
Of course, disappointment ultimately will be determined in the next few weeks, when Wagner attempts to avenge its conference title game loss of two years ago and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years.
Then, come Selection Sunday, some of Cooper’s old friends could be watching him.
“Coming to college, [making the NCAA Tournament] was my No. 1 goal,” Cooper said. “To fulfill that would be amazing. I wouldn’t even know what to say. I’d be the happiest man in the world.”
Games of the Week
Purdue at Rutgers (Saturday, 4 p.m.)
The Scarlet Knights’ shot at finishing with a winning record for the first time in 12 years is a long-shot, and it’s unlikely they will match last season’s 15-win mark after losing four straight and falling back into the Big Ten basement, following a 31-point loss to Illinois. Next comes No. 3 Purdue, which won last month’s meeting by 31 points.
Charleston at Hofstra (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
The Pride still have a chance to claim their second CAA regular season title in the past three years, but need a win over fellow contender Charleston. Hofstra lost this matchup 76-70 two weeks ago. Justin Wright-Foreman, who had 26 points that day, will need more support this time after no teammate scored more than 10 points in the loss.
Seton Hall at Villanova (Sunday, Noon)
The Pirates have regained their swagger after back-to-back double-digit wins, but the senior-led team faces its toughest test of the season at No. 1 Villanova, where Seton Hall hasn’t won in 24 years. The Wildcats won all three meetings last season, which included a 76-46 beatdown in Philadelphia.
Local Power Poll
1. Seton Hall
Record: 17-5, 6-3
Up next: Sunday (Noon) at Villanova
2. Rutgers
Record: 12-12, 2-9
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) vs. Purdue
3. St. John’s
Record: 10-13, 0-11
Up next: Saturday (Noon) vs. Duke
4. Iona
Record: 14-9, 8-3
Up next: Sunday (Noon) at Marist
5. Wagner
Record: 16-6, 9-2
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
6. Hofstra
Record: 14-9, 7-4
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) vs. Charleston
7. Army
Record: 12-10, 5-6
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) vs. American
8. Manhattan
Record: 11-13, 6-6
Up next: Thursday (7 p.m.) at Rider
9. Monmouth
Record: 7-15, 3-7
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Niagara
10. St. Peter’s
Record: 9-13, 3-8
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Canisius