How OU basketball's Kaden Cooper flashed talent in Big 12 tournament loss to TCU

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Not a moment has passed in the last four months where Kaden Cooper hasn’t been ready.

The former four-star recruit from Ada, who transferred to The Skill Factory in Georgia and also played AAU basketball with Team Trae Young, arrived on campus with expectations from fans and pundits that he would be a significant piece of head coach Porter Moser and OU’s future. After all, his signing was a coup for Moser — who missed the NCAA tournament in his first two seasons at the helm — as he landed Cooper over schools like Alabama, Kansas and LSU.

Out of high school, he was hailed as a lengthy, athletic wing who had potential to become an elite defender.

During months of inconsistent play and injury issues amid March Madness hopes, Cooper rode the bench for much of Big 12 play. Until Wednesday, the freshman forward hadn’t played more than four minutes in a game since a 34-point blowout win over lowly nonconference opponent Green Bay on Dec. 16.

So, when he was inserted into the Sooners’ Big 12 Tournament loss to TCU, it didn’t take long for his active energy to pop. Cooper played 12 minutes and knocked down a 3 with 13:34 remaining.

Mussatto: Shorthanded Sooners might hold their breath until NCAA Selection Sunday

“It was kind of a big moment for me,” Cooper told The Oklahoman in the Sooners’ locker room afterward. “Just taking the opportunity and seizing it and just staying ready for when my name was called.”

Despite not receiving much playing time throughout the season, Cooper has kept his head down and worked, unbothered by anything but getting better and helping his team.

When he did see action early in the season, his talent and explosive offensive ability was obvious. However, he seemed to struggle at times on defense, losing players on cuts and allowing easy buckets.

It’s tough for young players to sit early in their careers, but Cooper has handled it with the maturity similar to a veteran.

“It's really just growth,” Cooper said. “That's all I can worry about is just how I'm getting better day by day. And so I just use that to keep me positive and to stay in the right mindset. It's just about how I can get better on a day-to-day basis.”

Mussatto: Porter Moser to DePaul rumors came at bad time for Oklahoma basketball

Cooper, along with his 2024 classmate three-star Jacolb Cole, have been penciled in as the future of the Sooners. That is, if they stick around as the transfer portal and roster turnover has become more of a trend in recent years.

Moser has been asked about both Cooper and Cole’s development all season and OU’s third-year head coach has had nothing but praise for both young players.

“(He’s) still working hard, (has a) phenomenal attitude and you never know,” Moser said of Cooper on Feb. 6. “I just think he’s doing really well, we’re really pleased with every single day he comes ready to practice and learn. I think he’ll be ready when his shot comes because his attitude has been great.”

Moser said last week it’s harder for players in today’s college basketball landscape at a time when more and more freshmen are expected to produce right away. While at Loyola Chicago, Moser took the long game approach, developing young players for a season or two before throwing them into games.

Cooper has brought it every practice and shown flashes of the dominance he displayed in high school.

While he didn’t put up flashy numbers by any measure, Wednesday went a long way for Cooper’s development and confidence. Without major contributors John Hugley IV, Javian McCollum and Rivaldo Soares due to injuries, Cooper stepped up and helped the Sooners keep things interesting in a postseason environment.

“I think it was huge,” Cooper said of his ability to play a larger role. “The team needed me, they let me know that. And that’s all I was thinking about is how I could benefit my team and so I think I did that in a good way.”

More: Bracketology: Fight for last No. 1 seed down to Tennessee, North Carolina, Arizona

Following the Sooners’ loss, they now await the NCAA selection committee’s decision Sunday to see whether or not they’ll compete in March Madness. As of early Friday morning, OU was listed as having one of the last four byes in the tournament in ESPN insider Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology update.

Getting young players such as Cooper and sophomores Milos Uzan and Otega Oweh experience in the tournament would go a long way for their development and the future of the program as the trio moves into veteran roles next season. With several bubble teams still alive in their respective conference tournaments, Moser and Co. will nervously wait for Selection Sunday and focus on preparing for whatever lies ahead.

“We’re just staying positive and waiting for our names to be called, certainly,” Cooper said. “And getting, of course, our players that are hurt right now, getting them back in good shape and just staying on what we know and coming back ready.”

For Cooper, tournament or not, he’ll continue being the same player he’s been all season.

When asked what he’s learned the most during this trying season, Cooper came up with an answer that Moser would be proud of.

“Just my maturity and how I go about the game,” Cooper said. “Just really being solid with the ball and thinking through plays and not just being out there.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU basketball's Kaden Cooper shows flashes in Big 12 tournament loss