As a freshman in 2014–15, Cooks was named to the Big South Conference All-Freshman Team.[4] As a sophomore in 2015–16, he earned second-team All-Big South honours.[4]
As a junior in 2016–17, Cooks earned first-team All-Big South.[6] He helped Winthrop win the Big South Tournament and earned Big South All-Tournament Team.[4] On 15 February 2017, he recorded the first 20-point, 20-rebound game for Winthrop since 2003.[7]
As a senior in 2017–18, Cooks was again named first-team All-Big South and the Big South Player of the Year.[8] During the season, he became Winthrop's all-time leading rebounder.[9]
In 2020, Cooks was voted into the Big South Men's Basketball All-Decade Team (2010–19).[10]
Cooks initially signed with French team SIG Strasbourg for the 2019–20 season,[13] but left due to injury.[14]
Sydney Kings (2019–2023)
On 27 November 2019, Cooks signed with the Sydney Kings of the Australian NBL on a multi-year deal.[15] Following the 2019–20 season, Cooks opted out of his deal[16] and then re-signed with the Kings for the 2020–21 NBL season.[17] He averaged 10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in his second season with Sydney.[18]
On 22 June 2022, Cooks re-signed with the Kings on a three-year deal.[24] On 29 January 2023, he had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 111–106 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix, marking the league's first triple-double since 2021 and the first from a Sydney player since Dontaye Draper in 2008.[25] He went on to win NBL MVP for the 2022–23 season[26] and helped the Kings win back-to-back championships.[27] He finished the season averaging 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.[28]
Washington Wizards (2023)
On 17 March 2023, Cooks signed with the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[29] He made his NBA debut the next day, recording two rebounds in five and a half minutes against the Sacramento Kings.[30] In the Wizards' final game of the season on 9 April, he recorded 10 points and 14 rebounds in 35 minutes as a starter against the Houston Rockets.[31]
On 23 October 2023, Cooks was waived by the Wizards.[32]
On 27 May 2024, Cooks signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Kings.[35]
National team career
In 2017, Cooks was named to the Australian "Emerging Boomers" squad for the Summer Universiade.[36]
In early August 2019, Cooks made the final cut for Australia's 2019 FIBA World Cup roster.[37] However, one week later he was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a knee injury sustained during practice.[38]
Cooks is the son of Eric and Josie. His father is an African-American expatriate who became a naturalised citizen of Australia,[1] and his mother is Australian.[39] His father played college basketball for St. Mary's College in California before relocating to Australia to pursue a professional career.[40] He has two siblings, Georgia and Dominique. His brother was also a basketball player.[41]
