Cool, confident ... and Illinois Mr. Basketball? Reaction to Iowa recruit's move to Metamora

Basketball kept Cooper Koch on the move this summer.

The Iowa men's basketball recruit went from playing on the travel basketball circuit with the Indiana Elite, to an excursion in Italy, to a role as a counselor at the Curley “Boo” Johnson Skills for Life Academy Basketball Camp in Dunlap.

Koch's next adventure? He's headed across the Illinois River to play his senior season at Metamora.

Koch, who spent his first three years of high school at Peoria Notre Dame, officially enrolled this past week to become a Redbird, bringing a strong work ethic as well as helping to replace three graduated starters from the 2023 Class 3A state championship team.

Background: Elite Peoria basketball recruit transfers to state champion Metamora

“There’s definitely a lot of excitement,” he said Thursday after coaching a four-hour session at Boo Camp, “but then there’s also a little nervousness like if you don’t play well. But mostly excitement, just being able to develop with new guys and just have fun and play basketball.”

Bringing a pedigree to Metamora

In April, the 6-foot-8 guard/forward was selected to the 2023 adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, from June 8-15. While in Europe, he faced off against players in their early 20s from the NBA G-League and top professional Euro leagues.

Koch more than held his own.

“That was a lot of fun,” Koch said, “being able to play with those guys … in front of all those scouts. It definitely gave you a lot of confidence when you win two games, and you realize that you’re not much different than the guys that are four-five years older than you.”

If anyone can vouch for Koch’s summer progress, it's his dad, J.R. Koch. The Morton native is a former Iowa standout, an NBA draft pick and a six-year U.S. and European pro player. He sees increased growth in his son’s abilities, plus a consistent weight-lifting regimen that has provided a noticeable difference in the all-stater’s frame.

“He’s just playing with confidence,” the elder Koch said. “As soon as his AAU started, he was playing really well, shooting the lights out of the ball. … When he’s shooting the ball and playing with confidence, he shows really well. He just kind of carried that through the summer.

“(Playing in Italy) was a great experience and a lot to kind of take away and continue to learn from and grow from.”

Now, the pair will get back in the gym and prepare for the upcoming season. He’ll continue to work on his ballhandling while creating shots off the dribble. Plus, Cooper knows he and his new teammates will need time and reps to develop on the court.

“I definitely wasn’t as comfortable playing on the perimeter as I am now,” said Cooper, who averaged 18.6 points and 8.0 rebounds during his junior year, “and being able to kind of break a guy down and then create for myself and my teammates.”

What the reigning player of the year has to say

Speaking of teammates, Koch now will be playing alongside the area's reigning top player.

Tyler Mason, the 2023 Journal Star Player of the Year, oozes incredible savviness and possesses a very high IQ. The 6-foot-1 senior guard led Metamora in points (15.0), rebounds (5.1), assists (4.1) and steals (2.0) during last season’s 32-game march to the state title.

“It’s really cool having Cooper on our team,” Mason said, “because I’ve played against him forever since third grade. … (His game has) improved everywhere. All over the court. Everything’s gotten better. He’s just a better player overall. There’s a reason he’s going to Iowa.

“He’ll be a great addition to the starting lineup, especially.”

Metamora basketball: Every story from its run to the Class 3A basketball championship

Mason carried the momentum from winning state into the summer, playing with Mid-Pro Academy. More times than not, the all-stater was the toughest match-up on the court. He was rewarded with all sorts of college interest and recently committed to Division-II Winona State — the same college where former PND standouts Connor and Declan Dillon were on the 2022-23 roster.

"He's definitely one of the best point guards in the area," Koch said of Mason. "Being able for him to shoot the ball as well he does and space the floor, it will definitely be a good fit for both of us."

Illinois Mr. Basketball? Coach thinks so

Danny Grieves is ecstatic about Koch joining his program. The Redbirds coach, who boasts a 64-9 record over the last two seasons, once again has loaded up on his schedule. Metamora this coming season is part of the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions in Washington, the Southern Illinois Classic, the Jack Tosh Tournament at Elmhurst York over Christmas and will face Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in mid-January.

This will give Koch plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills.

“His ceiling is way out there,” Grieves said. “I think that he’s going to have a tremendous year. The impact that he’s going to have, not just on our team but as far as the state goes, he’s a guy with abilities that could be Mr. Basketball if he works hard at it.

“This kid is a worker. Hard work doesn’t scare him. … He’s really motivated. When you get a kid that’s got the skillset he does, and the drive, it’s a win-win for a coach, a team or whoever’s going to get him out of high school.”

Illinois Mr. Basketball — the award given annually to the top Illinois high school player — hasn’t been seen in the Peoria area since three-time NBA champ Shaun Livingston of Peoria High captured the honor in 2004. Other previous Peoria Mr. Basketball winners were all Manual players: Howard Nathan (1991), Sergio McClain (1997) and Frank Williams (1998).

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So, how does Cooper Koch, 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball sound?

“I haven’t really thought about that that much,” Koch said, “but being on a team that’ll be contending for a state title they probably weigh that in a little more. It might be an option.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Reaction to Iowa basketball recruit Cooper Koch move from Peoria to Metamora