Joe Cooper, Rodney Newsom's son, joins Memphis basketball team
Joe Cooper wants to help Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway any way he can.
The former Olive Branch (Mississippi) star has joined the Tigers’ program as a walk-on point guard. Cooper said there were other Division I opportunities (BYU and Austin Peay, among others). But he has always dreamed of following in his stepfather Rodney Newsom’s footsteps and playing for Memphis. Newsom played four seasons (1992-96) at Memphis, where he was one of Hardaway’s teammates.
“Actually, yeah, Memphis is my dream school,” Cooper told The Commercial Appeal Tuesday. “I want to live in Memphis the rest of my life. I love Memphis. So, being from here and playing for Penny – just being part of something special. This is probably one of the best teams he’s had. It’s exciting.”
Cooper was raised by Newsom and refers to him as "dad."
“As a kid, going to Memphis Madness and watching Derrick Rose get them to the national championship (game in 2008), I was always a Memphis fan,” Cooper said. “Just hoping all along, maybe I could have a miracle and come here.
“Sometimes, you lose hope and you just don’t know if you can do it. But, sometimes, dreams do come true, I guess.”
Cooper was a star the past two seasons at Northwest Mississippi Community College, averaging 15.1 points and 4.8 assists per game. Before that, he spent two seasons at Pearl River (Mississippi) Community College. He is academically ineligible for the fall semester, which is why he is not yet on scholarship. But Cooper is willing to do whatever it takes to lift the Tigers to a national title.
"He'll definitely show everybody what he can do once he gets a shot at it," said Newsom. "He can play at this level."
“Whether I’m eligible or not, whatever Penny needs me to do, I’m gonna do it,” Cooper said. “If it’s helping my teammates get better in practice or hitting a bunch of threes or getting water or running through a brick wall – whatever I need to do.”
Cooper hopes to honor Newsom by wearing the same jersey number (20).
SIGN UP: Memphis Tigers Basketball Insider text group with Jason Munz
“I’ve never seen him this excited about anything,” he said.
Hardaway has built a deep, veteran-laden roster – especially in the backcourt. Transfers Jahvon Quinerly and Caleb Mills are expected to start at the guard positions. UCF transfer Jayhlon Young, returning senior Jayden Hardaway and incoming freshman Carl Cherenfant are also in the mix there.
“I knew they were going to have a lot of talent. It's a deep roster," Cooper said. "There were some big D1 offers on the table, but we were kinda like, ‘Memphis, Memphis, Memphis.' I just told my dad, ‘I want to go and help them win.’ He was proud of that.”
The Tigers will face Lane College and LeMoyne-Owen (Oct. 29 and Nov. 2, respectively) in exhibition games before opening the regular season Nov. 6 against Jackson State at FedExForum.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Joe Cooper, Rodney Newsom's son, joins Memphis basketball team
