SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State men’s basketball coach Dana Ford announced Thursday (July 18) that heavily-touted recruit Ford Cooper Jr. has recently reclassified to the Class of 2019 and has signed a financial aid agreement to enroll at Missouri State University this fall.
Cooper has accumulated enough high school credits to graduate early and begin his college career in August.
“He is a high-IQ point guard who can really pass and can make shots,” said Missouri State assistant coach Jase Herl. “He has a very good understanding of where the ball needs to be and when it needs to be there. He is also a high-character kid from a great family.
The four-star standout played for coach Jeff McInnis and Team Charlotte at the Under Armour Association this summer. He is coming off a junior prep season that saw him lead coach Joshua Coley’s Falcons to a 17-13 overall record and perfect 7-0 ledger in conference play at United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte, N.C.
247Sports.com lists Cooper as a four-star talent and was tabbed as one of the top 105 players in the country in the class of 2020 before recently reclassifying. He has also earned major accolades from Rivlas.com, which lists him as a three-star standout.
Cooper played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Carmel Christian School in his hometown of Matthews, N.C. He helped coach Byron Dinkins’ Cougars to a 24-4 record in 2017-18.