Sports feeds
E-mail sports alerts
DDN sports mobile
Sports Twitter'Comfortable' Cook ready for NBA tour
Indications are he'll be drafted, making it more than likely he won't return to Ohio State.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
COLUMBUS — A grin formed on Daequan Cook's face as he perused the list of NBA teams who want to work him out.
Suns. Lakers. Spurs. Pistons. Heat. And more. Half the league's teams — so far — have scheduled workouts with Cook after the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., May 29 to June 4.
Extras
"It's amazing," the Ohio State freshman said with a chuckle. "I had a great season. I had a couple downfalls here and there, but I'm still able to go out and allow these teams to see what I'm capable of doing. It's just great to see the teams that never gave up on me.
"Once I heard the teams that were looking at me, that made me feel a lot more comfortable."
Cook had a good start to his freshman season, but his production and role decreased during the Buckeyes' run to the NCAA title game.
But Cook and his camp have received enough information to believe that staying in the NBA draft is the right move.
As an early draft entrant who hasn't yet signed with an agent, Cook could withdraw his name from the June 28 draft by June 18. Barring injury, Albert Powell said that's not going to happen.
"Even though it's a harder road, he's determined to stay in it," said Powell, a family friend and Dunbar High School assistant coach who will accompany Cook to the workouts. "Daequan is going to the NBA, whether it's the first or second round.
"He wants to go to the NBA, one way or another. He wants to do well in the interview and workout process. This is not a test the waters (situation)."
Online NBA analysts have called Cook a mid-to-late first-round pick.
A year ago, Cook won a state title. A month ago, he played for the NCAA championship. He hopes that this time next year, he's on an NBA playoff roster. Perhaps that could be the Spurs — his current favorite team with his favorite player, Tim Duncan.
"At the next level, it's a job. It's not about who you like and who is your favorite team," Cook said. "It's more about performing and doing what you need to do to get onto the team."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951
or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Cook's workouts
Ohio State freshman guard Daequan Cook and Dunbar High assistant coach Albert Powell, who set up the schedule, will be traveling around the country for NBA workouts. The NBA teams that have scheduled to have Cook work out between June 5 and June 25:
Houston Rockets
Boston Celtics
Phoenix Suns
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Seattle SuperSonics
Washington Wizards
New York Knicks
New Jersey Nets
Philadelphia 76ers
Utah Jazz
San Antonio Spurs
Golden State Warriors
Detroit Pistons
Miami Heat
