D. J. Cooper

Cooper grew up in the Chicago area and spent his first three years of high school at Hales Franciscan High School.[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/03/08/basketball-catching-up-with-seton-grad-dj-cooper-at-ohio-mr-dj-music-to-bobcats-ears/ Catching up with Seton grad D.J. Cooper at Ohio: Mr. D.J. music to Bobcats' ears]. Chicago Tribune (Helfgot, Mike). March 8, 2010. Retrieved on January 31, 2013. By the time he was a senior, and after transferring to Seton Academy, Cooper began to get national recognition. He was named a McDonald's All-America nominee and ranked as the 30th best player overall by ESPN.com for the class of 2009.[http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/cooper_dj00.html D. J. Cooper bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228025943/http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/cooper_dj00.html |date=2012-12-28 }}. Ohio Bobcats. Retrieved on January 31, 2013. Cooper averaged approximately 16 points and seven assists per game and led Seton Academy to the school's first-ever state championship in any sport when they won Illinois' Class 2A state title.

Cooper was recruited by some major Division I colleges such as Baylor.{{Cite news|last=Thamel|first=Pete |author-link=Pete Thamel |date=2012-03-18|title=Ohio Star Passed Up the Majors|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/sports/ncaabasketball/ncaa-tournament-ohios-d-j-cooper-passed-up-major-college-route.html|access-date=2022-10-16|issn=0362-4331}} He ultimately chose to play for Ohio University, a mid-major Division I school, and head coach John Groce because Cooper "wanted to feel like [he] was someone's main priority", which Groce made him feel. He then signed with Ohio and enrolled in the fall of 2009.

Cooper made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2009–10. He averaged 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game.[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dj-cooper-1.html D. J. Cooper Statistics]. sports-reference.com. Retrieved on January 31, 2013. He finished 11th in scoring and 17th in rebounding in the MAC, while his steals and assists ranked him 5th and 7th nationally. He was named the MAC Freshman of the Year while also helping the Bobcats upset the #3-seeded Georgetown Hoyas in the first round of the 2010 NCAA tournament. No player in the conference recorded more minutes played than Cooper all year and he also set new school records in single-season steals (93) and assists (218).

Heading into his sophomore campaign, Cooper was tabbed as the MAC Preseason Player of the Year. Although he didn't win the award, he was still a first team all-conference selection after breaking his own school record for assists (263), while his 7.5 assists-per-game average ranked third nationally. In a game against the Miami RedHawks he scored his 1,000th career point; in another game against the Akron Zips, he almost recorded a triple-double with 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The team earned a postseason bid to that year's CollegeInsider.com Tournament. They lost in the quarterfinals, however.

Cooper's junior year saw him burst onto the national scene during the 2012 NCAA tournament. The #13-seed Bobcats scored two upsets en route to the school's third ever Sweet 16 appearance. They upset #4-seed Michigan and then took down #12-seed South Florida before finally succumbing to #1-seed North Carolina. Earlier in the season, Cooper recorded Ohio University's first-ever triple double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win at Portland. He was named a finalist for both the Cousy Award and Lute Olson Award; at the end of the season Cooper already held the school record for career assists and needed only one more steal to surpass that record as well. He was also named a first team all-conference performer for the second year in a row.

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas dubbed him as one of the best passers in the nation during Bilas' Weekly Report segment on January 29, 2013.[http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012913aaa.html ESPN's Jay Bilas Names D.J. Cooper As Best Passer In the Nation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130844/http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012913aaa.html |date=2016-03-04 }}. Ohio University. January 29, 2013. Retrieved on January 31, 2013. He said of Cooper, {{nowrap|"[He]}} can score, he can dish, does a great job off the pick and roll and always seems to make the right decision. He can absolutely pass it, but more important than that, he can absolutely play. He's among the best point guards in the country."

On March 5, 2013, Cooper scored 24 points at Buffalo to become the only player in the history of college basketball to record 2,000 points, 900 assists, 600 rebounds and 300 steals in a career.{{cite web| title =Cooper Leads Ohio Past Buffalo, 72–69| work =OhioBobcats.com| publisher =Ohio University| date =March 5, 2013| url =http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030513aaa.html| access-date =March 11, 2013| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195712/http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030513aaa.html| archive-date =June 10, 2015| url-status =dead}} Six days later he was named to the All-MAC First Team for the third consecutive year.{{cite web|title=Three Bobcats Earn All-MAC Honors|url=http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031113aab.html|work=OhioBobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University|access-date=March 11, 2013|date=March 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314013228/http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031113aab.html|archive-date=March 14, 2013|url-status=dead}} Cooper finished his collegiate career with 934 assists and 328 steals, which at the time of his graduation ranked him 12th and 18th all-time, respectively, in Division I history.

On March 13, 2013, Cooper was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.

On April 5, 2013, Cooper was announced the East Perfect Player of the Game in the Reese's Division I College All-Star Game. He recorded 11 points, 9 assists, and 4 rebounds in 30 minutes.{{cite web|title=D.J. Cooper Named MVP Of Reese's Division I College All-Star Game|url=http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040513aaa.html|work=www.ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University|access-date=9 April 2013|date=5 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505220835/http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040513aaa.html|archive-date=5 May 2013|url-status=dead}}

After going undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft, Cooper signed his first professional contract in August 2013, with the Greek Basket League's PAOK for the 2013–14 season.{{cite web| title =D.J. Cooper To Play Professionally In Greece| work =OhioBobcats.com| publisher =Ohio University| date =August 26, 2013| url =http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082613aaa.html| access-date =August 27, 2013| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130830022210/http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082613aaa.html| archive-date =August 30, 2013| url-status =dead}}

On August 18, 2014, he signed with Enisey Krasnoyarsk of Russia for the 2014–15 season.{{cite news|script-title=ru:Ди Джей Купер будет выступать за "Енисей"|url=http://www.basket-enisey.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3323:2014-08-18-04-34-34&catid=44:2008-09-02-05-42-59&Itemid=125|language=ru|access-date=August 18, 2014|work=basket-enisey.ru|date=August 18, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Trapani|first1=Enea|title=Enisey Krasnojarsk announces D.J. Cooper|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/russia/131845/enisey-krasnojarsk-announces-dj-cooper.html|access-date=August 18, 2014|work=Sportando.com|date=August 18, 2014}} On May 12, 2015, he signed with the Greek club Panathinaikos for the rest of the 2014–15 Greek Basket League season.{{cite news|title=Deal With Morgan and Cooper|url=http://www.paobc.gr/page.ashx?pid=2&aid=42472|access-date=May 12, 2015|work=paobc.gr|date=May 12, 2015}}

On August 1, 2015, he signed with Krasny Oktyabr of Russia.{{cite news|title=Krasny Oktyabr announces DJ Cooper|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/russia/171290/krasny-oktyabr-announces-dj-cooper.html|access-date=August 1, 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=August 1, 2015}} On November 21, 2015, he left the Russian club and signed a two-year contract with AEK Athens of Greece.{{cite news|title=Συμφωνία με Κούπερ|url=http://www.aekbc.gr/el/articles-542/sumfwnia-me-kouper.htm|access-date=November 21, 2015|work=aekbc.gr|date=November 21, 2015|language=el|archive-date=October 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029182611/http://www.aekbc.gr/el/articles-542/sumfwnia-me-kouper.htm|url-status=dead}} He left AEK after appearing in seven games. On January 25, 2016, he signed with AS Monaco Basket for the rest of the season.{{cite news|title=AS Monaco signs D.J. Cooper|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/189004/as-monaco-signs-dj-cooper.html|access-date=February 12, 2016|work=Sportando.com|date=January 25, 2016}}

On August 8, 2016, Cooper signed with Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez of France.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/209032/pau-orthez-lands-dj-cooper.html|title=Pau-Orthez lands DJ Cooper}} Cooper was the assists leader in the 2016–17 Pro A season, and after the regular season he was named the competition's Most Valuable Player.{{Cite web | url = http://www.eurohoops.net/en/proa/449886/d-j-cooper-proa-mvp/ | title = D.J. Cooper is the Pro A MVP | work = Eurohoops.net | date = 2017-05-18|access-date=2017-05-18}}

On July 8, 2017, Cooper signed a two-year deal with French club BCM Gravelines.{{cite news|title=Gravelines signs Pro A MVP DJ Cooper to a two-year deal|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/240493/gravelines-signs-pro-a-mvp-dj-cooper-to-a-two-year-deal.html|access-date=July 8, 2017|work=Sportando.com|date=July 8, 2017}} On October 16, 2017, he parted ways with Gravelines after appearing in four games.{{cite news|title=OFFICIEL : DJ COOPER QUITTE LE BCM|url=http://www.bcmbasket.com/officiel-dj-cooper-quitte-le-bcm/|access-date=October 17, 2017|work=bcmbasket.com|date=October 16, 2017|language=fr}} Three days later, he returned to AS Monaco.{{cite news|title=Officiel : D.J. Cooper de retour à l'ASM !|url=http://asmbasket.org/news/show.php?ID=9121|access-date=October 19, 2017|work=asmbasket.org|date=October 19, 2017|language=fr}} After averaging 6.9 points and 7.2 assists per game in the 2017–18 season, Cooper announced he was leaving Monaco on September 7, 2018.{{cite web |title=DJ Cooper to leave AS Monaco for personal reasons |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/france/pro-a/287827/dj-cooper-to-leave-as-monaco-for-personal-reasons.html |website=Sportando |access-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092837/https://sportando.basketball/en/france/pro-a/287827/dj-cooper-to-leave-as-monaco-for-personal-reasons.html |archive-date=September 8, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

On June 10, 2020, Cooper signed with Élan Chalon of the LNB Pro A in France.{{cite news |title=Elan Chalon sign D.J. Cooper |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/elan-chalon-sign-d-j-cooper/ |website=Sportando |access-date=June 11, 2020 |date=June 10, 2020}} He parted ways with the team on October 8, after appearing in three games and averaging 9.6 points and 6.6 assists per game.{{cite news |title=Elan Chalon, DJ Cooper part ways |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/elan-chalon-dj-cooper-part-ways/ |website=Sportando |access-date=October 8, 2020 |date=October 8, 2020}} On November 3, Cooper signed with the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional in Mexico; he played two games for them.{{cite web |title=Dorados add Cooper to their roster, ex Chalon |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/France/news/651611/Dorados-add-Cooper-to-their-roster,-ex-Chalon |website=Eurobasket |access-date=November 3, 2020 |date=November 3, 2020}} On December 14, 2020, he signed with Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski in Poland, but he left them on December 23.{{Cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/DJ-Cooper/Summary/11588|title=D.J. Cooper Player Profile, Ohio - RealGM|website=basketball.realgm.com}} On February 25, 2021, he signed with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague paused in March 2022.

Cooper then signed with Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. In the 2021-22 season, he led the league in assist average, averaging 10.2 per game, and in steals average, at 2.4 per game.{{Cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/international/league/11/Israeli-BSL/stats/2022/Averages/Qualified/All/points/All/desc/1/Regular_Season|title=Israeli BSL Stats - RealGM|website=basketball.realgm.com}}

On July 5, 2022, he signed with Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bebasket.fr/d-j-cooper-reste-en-israel-mais-rejoint-ness-ziona/|title=D.J. Cooper reste en Israël mais rejoint Ness Ziona|last=|first=|date=July 5, 2022|website=bebasket.fr|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=August 25, 2022}}

On November 7, 2024, he signed with Śląsk Wrocław of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).{{Cite web|url=https://plk.pl/aktualnosci/25093/dj-cooper-w-wks-slasku|title=DJ Cooper w WKS Śląsku|last=|first=|date=November 7, 2024|website=plk.pl|publisher=|language=pl|access-date=November 9, 2024}}

On February 18, 2025, he signed with Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bebasket.fr/d-j-cooper-retourne-en-israel-direction-holon|title=D.J. Cooper retourne en Israël, direction Holon|last=|first=|date=February 18, 2025|website=|publisher=BeBasket|language=fr|access-date=April 11, 2025}}

In 2019, FIBA issued Cooper a two-year suspension for using another person's urine in an attempt to cheat a doping test. The test initially indicated an elevated level of human chorionic gonadotropin, which is most commonly produced by the placenta during pregnancy.{{cite news|title=Report: D.J. Cooper suspended by FIBA for faking drug test that revealed he was pregnant|last1=Young|first1=Ryan|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/fiba-dj-cooper-drug-test-europe-failed-suspension-pregnancy-ohio-035012581.html|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=August 3, 2019|access-date=August 4, 2019}}{{cite news|title=DJ Cooper suspended for falsifying doping test by using pregnant woman's urine|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba/915133/dj-cooper-suspended-for-falsifying-doping-test-by-using-pregnant-womans-urine/|work=Eurohoops.net|date=August 3, 2019|access-date=August 8, 2019}} That urine, according to the report, belonged to his girlfriend.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/fiba-dj-cooper-drug-test-europe-failed-suspension-pregnancy-ohio-035012581.html|title=Report: D.J. Cooper suspended by FIBA for faking drug test that revealed he was pregnant|website=www.yahoo.com|date=August 4, 2019 }}

Cooper applied for Bosnian citizenship in 2014.{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2014-06-11|title=Cooper To Suit Up For Bosnian National Team|url=https://woub.org/2014/06/11/cooper-suit-bosnian-national-team/|access-date=2022-10-16|website=WOUB Public Media|language=en-US}} He was named a member of the senior men's Bosnian national basketball team, and was going to play with Bosnia at the EuroBasket 2015 qualification tournament. However, he first left Bosnia for a family emergency.{{Cite web|last=Manning|first=Chris|date=2014-07-09|title=D.J. Cooper Leaves Bosnian National Team|url=https://www.hustlebelt.com/ohio-bobcats/2014/7/9/5882901/d-j-cooper-leaves-bosnian-national-team-due-to-family-emergency|access-date=2022-10-16|website=Hustle Belt|language=en}} After his return, he suffered an injury during Bosnia's training camp, and he was unable to play at the qualification tournament.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/national-teams/national-teams/130970/dj-cooper-will-not-play-eurobasket-qr-with-bosnia-due-to-injury.html|title=DJ Cooper will not play Eurobasket QR with Bosnia due to injury.}} Ultimately, his Bosnian citizenship was never processed, according to FIBA.

{{Basketball player statistics legend}}

{{Small|Note: Only games in the primary domestic competitions are included. Therefore, games in cup or European competitions are left out.}}

{{Basketball player statistics start}}

|-

| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"|PAOK

| style="text-align:left;"|GBL

| 26 || 30.5 || .531 || .317 || .783 || 4.8 || 6.6 || 1.6 || 0.0 || 10.6

{{s-end}}

{{Basketball player statistics start}}

|-

| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"|PAOK

| style="text-align:left;"|GBL

| 9 || 30.5 || .545 || .285 || .757 || 3.9 || 6.2 || 1.9 || 0.2 || 10.7

|-

| 2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"|Panathinaikos

| style="text-align:left;"|GBL

| 8 || 15.0 || .600 || .235 || .333 || 2.5 || 2.5 || 0.6 || 0.0 || 3.4

{{s-end}}

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career assists leaders

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131111111040/http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/D.J.-Cooper-5862/stats/ Draftexpess profile]
• [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/?clubcode=PAO&pcode=005147 Eurocup profile]
• [http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/DJ_Cooper/189152 Eurobasket.com profile]
• [http://www.esake.gr/el/action/EsakeplayerView?idplayer=DE3117F5&mode=1&idteam=0000000C&idchampionship= Greek Basket League profile]
• [http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/110068/playerview.html FIBA.com profile]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Hapoel Holon BC current roster}}

{{navboxes|list1=

{{Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}

{{LNB Pro A MVP}}

{{FIBA Europe Cup assists leader}}

{{Israeli Basketball Premier League Assist Leaders}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, D. J.}}

Category:1990 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:AEK B.C. players

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mexico

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Monaco

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Russia

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Ukraine

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:AS Monaco Basket players

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Category:BCM Gravelines players

Category:Bnei Herzliya basketball players

Category:Chorale Roanne Basket players

Category:Dorados de Chihuahua (LNBP) players

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Category:Élan Chalon players

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Category:Indomables de Ciudad Juárez players

Category:Ironi Ness Ziona B.C. players

Category:Ohio Bobcats men's basketball players

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Category:Point guards

Category:Śląsk Wrocław basketball players