Here’s hoping that Mike Cook has been shown video of the Pitt-St. John’s game from last year for an education on not trying to do too much before all the friends and family. Ramon, Benjamin and Fields can tell him directly, but seeing Krauser brick it up in that game might also help. Can you guess what a big storyline is for this game?
Cook, the Panthers’ No. 2 scorer, has looked forward to this game all season. When asked how many relatives will be in the stands at the home of the 76ers, Cook smiled and said, “A lot.”
Some of Cook’s family moved to Pittsburgh when Mike, the oldest of four brothers, transferred to Pitt from East Carolina. But many of the family and friends will get a long-overdue look at the soft-spoken, slashing scorer who piled up a school-record 1,884 points at Friends’ Central before taking a circuitous path that led him to Pitt.
“My family is real excited to come out and watch me play,” Cook said. “They don’t get a lot of chances to see me play. This is a big opportunity for me.”
Some of those in the stands will be his father, Michael, a former high school standout in Philadelphia, his mother, Dawn, who played at Temple, and his beloved uncle James Wright, a West Philadelphia basketball legend who taught Mike how to play.
For the first time, Friends’ Central coach Keino Terrell will get to see his former star swingman play in a college basketball game. Terrell said at least 15 teammates, teachers and even the headmaster of Friends’ Central will attend the game.
I think we are all hoping for the Pitt blowout so walk-on and other local product, Maurice Polen can get in there.
For Mike Cook, his mother’s side of the family has deep Philly hoops ties. His mom was a standout in high school and at Temple and is now the head coach of a boys high school basketball team. As for his grandfather.
A star at Archbishop Carroll in Washington, Tom Hoover parlayed a successful run at Villanova into a first-round draft selection by the 76ers, the first player they drafted following the franchise’s move from Syracuse in 1963. After five professional years, he went on to an eclectic career that included stops as the promoter for Sly and the Family Stone, road manager for Richard Pryor and today includes developing gourmet food markets in New York City as well as serving on the board of directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
Grandpa isn’t saying, which side he’ll be rooting for in this game.
