In his final season of varsity basketball, Cooper Cordes is looking to lead his team to success one final time. Coming off a quarterfinals run last year, Cordes, a three-year varsity basketball athlete, is hoping to improve upon last year’s performance. Head Coach Brian Donaldson added about Cordes’ past and hopeful future contributions: “He was a major part of his winning our first playoff game in six years last year, and [he will] hopefully be a major piece in a big run this season.”
Cordes began playing basketball at the age of seven and remembers playing with his older brother, Max, in the backyard. Cordes was inspired by Max and his interest in the sport, and he began to pick up the sport as well.
When asked about some of his favorite memories playing basketball, Cordes said, “My favorite broad memory is shooting around in my backyard while my dad rebounded for me, giving me advice after every shot. While I would get annoyed at the time, the hard work paid off, and I would do anything to have him rebound for me again.” He also elaborated on a singular moment that he deeply cherishes: “Going 4-0 and winning the championship of a Brooklyn tournament with my travel basketball team. I loved this memory because I was with a lot of great teammates from all different high schools, and this was the time that I felt most confident in myself as a player, as I scored 36 points in the championship game.”
Long-time friend and teammate Devin Byrne had much praise for Cordes, not only for his leadership qualities but also for his work ethic: “[Cordes] always looks to lead by example by working really hard at practice… His leadership qualities are extremely valuable to our team and will be a key factor in what we do this year.” Additionally, Byrne commented on how Cordes’ determination seems to spread among his teammates and creates a unique culture “His work ethic has been seen by a lot of people on our team as motivation to get to where we expect to be this season.” Byrne also commented on Cordes’ ability to bring the team together no matter what the circumstances may be.
Additionally, Donaldson commented on Cordes as the leader he is today: “Cordes has shown leadership qualities since I have coached and taught him as a freshman. He leads vocally and by his actions that he exhibits in life outside of basketball in leadership roles in both Key Club and SGA.”
One of Cordes’ biggest on-court inspirations is New York Knicks superstar and point guard Jalen Brunson. Cordes praises Brunson for his ability to score, his footwork, and his ability to manipulate defenders. Cordes also relates to Brunson as being an undersize guard, and he has attempted to replicate Brunson’s play style in his own games. Likewise, Coach Donaldson noticed similar attributes in Cordes’ game: “On the court, the two skills that stand out are his speed and shooting. By either bringing the ball up or sprinting to the corner in transition for an early up pass, he puts pressure on the defense and… if he gets an open look, Cordes is going to hit it and make them pay.”
Off the court Cordes’ biggest inspiration is his late father. Cordes explains, “From the moment I was born, my dad taught me how to treat people. He taught me to have respect for everyone and look out for the underdog, which I have done my best [during] my time [in] high school. While I only had 15 years with my dad, he will always be my biggest inspiration because of the positive way he lived his life and treated people.” Cordes tries to replicate this behavior not only on-court, but also in everyday life.
Cordes offered a few pieces of advice for younger players. Cordes advises aspiring athletes to always work hard and to also “…be different from everyone else: try and find ways to make yourself stand out.” Cordes went on to explain that while this behavior may seem insignificant, it is important to remember that “your coach is a person too, and they will remember if you’re friendly or not.” Moreover, Cordes can attest to this behavior as he cited his parents: “[My parents forced] me to go shake my coach’s hand after every practice and thank him/her.” Additionally, Cordes recommends younger players to always be kind to their teammates and build them up: “Basketball can get very competitive with your teammates because there are only five starting positions, but there is never an excuse to be rude to your teammates.”
After high school, Cordes plans to play club basketball at whatever university he attends. Cordes explains that while he always wanted to play in college, he realized that he would rather focus on his academic future.
