COOLEY LEADS RISING STARS IN CHICAGO CLASSIC

July 11, 2008

by Doug Ferguson

With their roster undermanned by the absence of Marcus Jordan and Jerome Richmond who have yet to return to the AAU circuit from the LeBron James Skills Academy, The Rising Stars Gold (IL) AAU team needed a huge pick-me-up from Notre Dame commit Jack Cooley. They needed every last point, block, and rebound as they fought off a late comeback to defeat the Illinois Hawks by a single point in pool play action of the Chicago Classic



The main attraction was Cooley who had a triple double. The final line was 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 blocks....that's right, blocks. Cooley proved he had the ability to carry the load by himself when in addition to the absence of Jordan and Richmond, point guard and Alabama recruit Culley Payne went down early in the second half with a leg injury. Cooley showed an ability to score in bunches in the first half where had 12 of his 16 points. Evanston's Nik Garcia had 23 to lead all scorers.


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