NCAA Basketball: Analyzing top 10 teams for top-50 wing Kaden Cooper

Memphis Tigers

After electing to not have any freshmen in the 2022 class, head coach Penny Hardaway landed several key transfers this offseason. Guys like Kendric Davis, Emmanuel Akot, and Keonte Kennedy have one year left so Memphis will need to have a decent-sized 2023 class in order to replenish the talent pool.

The wing position, which I’d argue was overcrowded this past season, now has opened up and someone like Cooper can see minutes early on. And despite the offensive inconsistencies that the Tigers have had in the past couple of years, they’ve remained a quality defensive unit, which is why Cooper would be a nice fit here.

Oklahoma Sooners

Another program that Cooper visited, the Sooners are one of two “local” options in the mix. They’re building up the roster under head coach Porter Moser, including landing several four-star freshmen guards (Milos Uzan, Otega Oweh). They also have recently landed a true wing in Jacolb Cole, currently a top-100 commit and a 6’7 small forward in the 2023 class.

Oklahoma could have both Cole and Cooper on the roster and find a way to make it work since Cole could play some undersized power forward in small-ball lineups. Staying home can certainly be appealing in the Big 12 and Coach Moser is highly respected. But with a wing already in the class, it could hurt the Sooners in this recruitment.