Jalen Cook transfers to Tulane
NEW ORLEANS (BVM) — With the NCAA giving an extra year of eligibility to players, more upperclassmen are deciding to stay at their respected colleges. By giving one year of extra eligibility, more underclassmen are using the transfer portal to find a new school. Jalen Cook is one of those players.
Source: LSU transfer Jalen Cook and UNC Asheville transfer DeVon Baker have both committed to Tulane.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 24, 2021
Cook is a former recipient of the Louisiana Mr. Basketball Award and Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. Cook averaged 29.5 points, 5.1 boards, 4.7 assists and 2.8 steals his junior year at Walker High School. Cook would maintain his high level of play in the playoffs by averaging 28.8 points. He also helped the Wildcats capture their first-ever state championship in 2018. Also, toward the end of his senior basketball season, Cook accomplished something extraordinary. He eclipsed the 3,000-point mark when Walker played East Ascension.
Cook was also a star for the Walker football team. As a junior, which was the last season he played football, he earned all-parish honors and was an all-state honorable mention. He caught 47 passes for 624 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Cook also served as a punt returner, returning 10 kicks for an average of 37.5 yards and scored two TDs.
This led Cook to commit to the LSU Tigers. Prior to his senior year, Cook received full-ride scholarships to play basketball and football before ultimately deciding to play basketball for the Tigers.
The 6-foot, 200-pound guard went on to appear 20 times for the Tigers basketball team. He would play 7.5 minutes and averaged 3.1 points. Following the season, Cook decided it would be best for him to transfer from the Tiger basketball program.
“First and foremost, I wanted to thank God for blessing me and giving me the opportunity to play the game I love most,” Cook said in a statement. “I want to give a huge thanks to my family, my friends and fans for pushing me and standing by me in every way throughout my basketball career…I want to thank LSU and all my brothers I made there that pushed me. The memories made at LSU will last forever. With that being said I will continue my basketball and academic career at Tulane University!!”
New wave!! 🌊💚🤝. #504StandUp #ThankYouLord pic.twitter.com/Nz8CWMfY4b
— Jalen ™ (@jalen3cook) April 24, 2021
For Cook, it’s a fresh start and he’ll look forward to helping the Green wave compete for an American Athletic Conference title.
“We are extremely excited to bring a young man like Jalen into our program,” Tulane head basketball coach Ron Hunter said in a press release. “He earned a lot of big-time accolades as a prep player in this state, and he’s a dynamic player that can do a lot of different things. We can’t wait to feel the immediate impact he’s going to have on our team.
Gonna be a whole lot of fun in Nola! Its about to be very different!! 😤😤 #ThankYouLord #GreenWave https://t.co/FzhhLaaFo9
— Jalen ™ (@jalen3cook) April 28, 2021
