Oregon Basketball: Ducks continue elite 2023 class with 5-star Mookie Cook
The bizarre recruiting saga of five-star wing Mookie Cook came to a close on Friday, with Cook recommitting to Oregon Basketball after a de-commitment from them in late March. Kentucky and Gonzaga were the other schools in his final two.
What are the Ducks getting in Cook?
Mookie Cook is one of the more physically imposing wings in the 2023 class. He uses his sheer size, strength, and athletic ability to overwhelm opponents. Cook isn’t super-skilled but has enough straight-line driving and finishing ability to be a power-finisher from day one. His build should allow him to play both the three and the four. His size should allow him to survive defensively against most fours.
The shooting and ball skills still have a way to go in his development, and some shooting would open up more driving lanes for Cook. He reminds of me high school Stanley Johnson, who went on to average 13 points and 6 rebounds in his lone season at Arizona, using his size and athleticism and occasionally hitting some jumpers. I expect a similar output for Cook his freshman year.
Top-10 senior Mookie Cook announces he's recommitted to Oregon. Cook originally committed to the Ducks in late March & reopened his recruitment prior to the July evaluation period. Now he's back in the fold. Second five-star pledge for Dana Altman this month, following KJ Evans.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) August 12, 2022
What does this mean for Oregon?
Cook’s addition makes an already good recruiting class, a great one. Cook will join five-star forward KJ Evans, and four-star guard Jackson Shelstad. It continues a run of nabbing big-time recruits for Dana Altmann: KJ Evans (2023), Kel’El Ware (2022), Nathan Bittle (2021), Franck Kepnang (2020), N’Faly Dante (2019), Bol Bol (2018). Altmann has had continued success in the recruiting market, particularly for front-court players.
Oregon will definitely lose Will Richardson after this season, and the expectation is that Ware turns pro. Quincy Guerrier and Rivaldo Soares could potentially use their fifth year of eligibility, but the Ducks should have a plethora of interesting front-court options. A Cook-Evans-Dante front-court would be one of the most physically opposing in the entire country.
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Evans is a little more raw and theoretical, but I expect Cook to be an instant impact player from day one and the best college player out of this recruiting class, and likely spend only one season in Eugene.