Most NBA Draft attention this year has gone toward names like Cameron Boozer, but Memphis just found a two-way signee who refused to stay in the background during his Summer League debut.

Carson Cooper, the Michigan State alum, played 19 minutes off the bench against Oklahoma City and delivered instantly.

He finished with 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting, adding five rebounds, three assists and a block in a lopsided Grizzlies win.

It was very significant under the circumstances. Cooper inked a two-way contract with Memphis right after the draft, thus every minute during the Summer League becomes an audition for him. Shooting at 83 percent means that he is better prepared than expected.

His shooting range also confirmed that. Cooper made his only attempt from three points that night, something which he did not even attempt in his four years at Michigan State.

This shot was more than just a statistic. The Michigan State supporters have seen Cooper play inside the arc for four seasons, and now seeing him make shots from outside the arc in a professional setting indicates he has developed offensively.

It is precisely that story which has helped Memphis take the risk to give Cooper a two-way contract.

Carson Cooper's Journey From Zero-Star Recruit to Michigan State Standout

The road that Cooper took to reach the NBA is definitely an unusual one for sure. Before Cooper became interested in basketball, he was a multi-sport athlete in Jackson, Michigan. He even played goalkeeper in soccer and made all-state.

Cooper joined Michigan State in 2022, becoming a zero-star recruit out of IMG Academy. Coach Izzo had faith in his talent-spotting capabilities, regardless of Cooper not going through the normal recruiting process as many recruits from other schools do.

This was evident during his rookie year when Cooper only averaged 1.6 points and six minutes a game. However, at 6'11, he kept growing both physically and in muscle.

By his final season, the development was clear. Cooper played in all 35 games, becoming team captain while averaging 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game.

Leave your comment on how you think of Carson Cooper’s journey from an unranked recruit to a two-way NBA contract player with the Grizzlies.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta