A couple more stories on transfer Mike Cook. His hometown paper gives a little more about what schools he considered.
Cook chose Pittsburgh after also considering La Salle, George Washington and Charlotte. Cook said he has given the Panthers an oral commitment, but expects to complete the paperwork that will make his transfer official this week. A journalism major, he will report to school no later than Aug. 29 for the start of classes.
Under NCAA rules, Cook, who played three positions at East Carolina – point guard, shooting guard and small forward – must sit out the 2005-06 season but may join the Panthers in 2006-07. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
I do like the fact that he played multiple positions, and will have a year to practice with the team and learn the system. The more I think about it, the more encouraged I get. He could be a very good inside-out threat. He has a scorer mentality and wants to drive to the basket — plus he can shoot free throws.
Cook’s father liked what Pitt offered.
“Pitt seemed like a place where Mike could thrive. They play the style he is looking for,” Cook’s father said. “They’ve been so good in the Big East, and watching them play made us feel like it was a winning situation. Even though they lose players, it doesn’t seem like they have much of a drop-off from year to year.”
In high school, Cook was part of team at Friends Central in Philadelphia that also showcased former Syracuse star Hakim Warrick, a Memphis Grizzlies draft choice, and Arizona junior Mustafa Shakur.
Given the number of guards that Pitt will have on the active roster come 2006, it would suggest that Pitt will be looking for Forwards and Centers for the rest of its recruiting class. Come 2006 barring any transfers or worse the guards on the roster will include Graves (Sr), Ramon (Jr), Benjamin (Jr), Fields(So), Ferguson (So), Gilbert Brown (Fr) and Cook (Jr). Not to mention walk-ons Bowman and Small.
That’s a lot of Guards. Versatility of position and their size for players like Cook, Ferguson and Brown will likely see them in the 3rd guard/Small Forward position a lot more than simply Shooting Guard.
