.jpg) Cooper in High School | |
| No. 0 – Aris Thessaloniki | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| League | GBL |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2001-06-11)June 11, 2001 (age 23) Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 176 lb (80 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) |
| College | Auburn (2020–2021) |
| NBA draft | 2021: 2nd round, 48th overall pick |
| Selected by theAtlanta Hawks | |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021–2022 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2021–2022 | →College Park Skyhawks |
| 2022–2024 | Cleveland Charge |
| 2024 | Liaoning Flying Leopards |
| 2024 | Merkezefendi |
| 2024–present | Aris Thessaloniki |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Sharife Omar Cooper (born June 11, 2001) is an American professionalbasketball player forAris Thessaloniki of theGreek Basketball League (GBL). He playedcollege basketball for theAuburn Tigers.
In hisfreshman season in 2016–17, Cooper averaged 16 points and 4.4 assists per game, leadingMcEachern High School inPowder Springs, Georgia to a 29–1 record and an appearance in theGeorgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 7A state semifinals. The following year, he led the Indians to a state quarterfinals appearance while posting a 26–3 record.[1] He received considerable media attention in December 2017 for his 42-point performance againstJahvon Quinerly and nationally rankedHudson Catholic Regional High School in the quarterfinals of theCity of Palms Classic. He scored the game-winning buzzer-beater in an 83–81overtime victory.[1][2][3]
As ajunior in 2018–19, Cooper led McEachern to a perfect 32–0 record and the first state title in school history while averaging 27.2 points, 8.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 steals per game. In the title-game win overMeadowcreek, he scored 20 points and dished four assists as McEachern finished ranked No. 1 in three national polls.[4] He picked upmost valuable player (MVP) honors at several tournaments, including the City of Palms Classic and Tournament of Champions.[5] After the season, he was namedUSA Today All-USA Player of the Year,MaxPreps National Player of the Year,Mr. Georgia Basketball, and Georgia'sGatorade Player of the Year.[6][7][8][9] He also earnedUSA Today All-USA first team andNaismith All-American second team honors.[10] Cooper was selected to play in the2020 McDonald's All-American Boys Game on January 23, 2020.[11] On May 6, 2021, Cooper's #2 high school jersey number was retired at McEachern where he was honored as the most decorated male basketball player in school history.[12]
A consensus five-starrecruit, Cooper was considered one of the top prospects in his class. On September 27, 2019, he committed to playcollege basketball forAuburn, becoming the highest-ranked recruit and the second five-star recruit in program history.[13]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharife Cooper PG | Powder Springs, GA | McEachern (GA) | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Sep 27, 2019 | |
Star ratings:Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 94 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals:22 247Sports:27 ESPN:20 | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
Cooper missed the first 12 games of his freshman season due to aNational Collegiate Athletic Association investigation into his eligibility. During that time, he explored professional options.[14] On January 9, 2021, he made his Auburn debut, recording 26 points, nine assists and four rebounds in a 94–90 loss toAlabama.[15] Four days later, Cooper posted a season-high 28 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in a 95–77 win overGeorgia.[16] As a freshman, he averaged 20.2 points, 8.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game through 12 appearances, earningSoutheastern Conference All-Freshman Team honors. On April 2, 2021, Cooper declared for the2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[17]
Cooper was selected in the second round of the2021 NBA draft with the 48th pick by theAtlanta Hawks.[18] On August 5, 2021, he signed atwo-way contract with the Hawks, splitting time with theirNBA G League affiliate, theCollege Park Skyhawks.[19] He played for the Hawks in the2021 NBA Summer League, recording 11 points on 5–11 shooting, and 6 assists in 28 minutes at his debut in a 85–83 loss against theBoston Celtics.[20] Cooper made his NBA debut in the Hawks' season opener against theDallas Mavericks, going 0-for-3 from the field in a 113–87 win.[21]
Cooper joined the Hawks'2022 NBA Summer League roster.[22] On July 22, 2022, Cooper re-signed with the Hawks on another two-way deal.[23] He was waived three days later.[24]
On September 20, 2022, Cooper signed with theCleveland Cavaliers,[25] but was waived on October 15.[26] On October 24, he joined theCleveland Charge's training camp roster.[27] Cooper was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season.[28]
In July 2023, Cooper joined theCleveland Cavaliers for the2023 NBA Summer League and on September 13, 2023, he re-signed with the Cavaliers.[29] However, he was waived on October 21[30] and one week later re-signed with the Charge.[31]
On February 26, 2024, Cooper signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers,[32] although he failed to make an appearance. On March 7, he returned to the Charge.[33]
On April 1, 2024, Cooper signed with theLiaoning Flying Leopards of theChinese Basketball Association (CBA).[34] He helped the Flying Leopards win the 2024 CBA championship, recording 22 points, nine assists, and six rebounds off the bench in their title-clinching Game 4 victory over theXinjiang Flying Tigers.[35]
On September 28, 2024, Cooper signed withYukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi of the TurkishBasketball Super League (BSL).[36]
On November 21, 2024, Cooper moved to Greek clubAris for the rest of the season.[37]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Atlanta | 13 | 0 | 3.0 | .214 | .167 | – | .4 | .4 | .0 | .0 | .5 |
| Career | 13 | 0 | 3.0 | .214 | .167 | – | .4 | .4 | .0 | .0 | .5 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Liaoning Flying Leopards | 7 | 0 | 13.6 | .467 | .400 | .731 | 2.3 | 3.3 | .3 | .1 | 11.6 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Auburn | 12 | 12 | 33.1 | .391 | .228 | .825 | 4.3 | 8.1 | 1.0 | .3 | 20.2 |
Cooper was born inNewark, New Jersey to Omar and Kindall Cooper, and the family moved to theAtlanta area when he was around the age of six.[38] He has two sisters,Te'a and Mia, who both won state titles at McEachern, while Te'a continued on to play atTennessee,South Carolina andBaylor before being drafted by thePhoenix Mercury in the2020 WNBA draft.[39] He also has a twin brother, Omar.[40]