Ex-Wagner hoopster JoJo Cooper signs pro contract in Germany
"I am very happy to be in the great city of Munster and I am absolutely ready to start here in team training," says Cooper. Cooper will suit up for his first game as a professional this Saturday in an exhibition game against BSV Wulfen. The WMU BASKETS, who compete in the 2nd Bundesliga in Germany, will open the regular season at home against the Dresden Titans on September 22, giving the former All-Northeast Conference (NEC) selection less than one month to get acclimated with his new team. A valuable cog in the Seahawks' machine during his first three seasons on Grymes Hill, the physical 6-1 guard enjoyed a breakout senior season in 2017-18, leading Wagner to its second NEC regular season title and National Invitational Tournament (NIT) bid in a three-year span. Cooper was tabbed the 2017-18 All-Met Second Team, the 2018 All-Northeast Conference (NEC) First Team, the 2018 All-NEC Tournament Team, as well as the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I All-District 18 First Team. Cooper, who was named the Seahawks' Most Valuable Male Athlete, was also a participant in the inaugural 3X3U National Championship, presented by Dos Equis, held in San Antonio, TX. Regarded as one of the NEC's top defensive guards during his first three collegiate seasons, Cooper averaged 14.3 points, 6.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game in 2017-18, scoring in double figures 28 times (45 times for his career), while hitting for 20 or more points on six different occasions. His final 20-point plus outing came in the NEC semifinals against Robert Morris, when he finished with 20 points in 39 minutes of action. Cooper wrapped up his four-year Seahawk with 1,018 points career points (43rd all-time) while dishing out 517 assists (sixth all-time time). In addition, the versatile guard grabbed 491 career rebounds in 124 games, setting a program record for games played, surpassing the previous mark of 123. The former Concord High School standout was also a three-time NEC Player of the Week selection this past season.