Ta'Lon Cooper

Ht./Wt.:
6-4 / 195
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Roebuck, S.C.
High School:
Dorman HS

PRONUNCIATION

2022-23 SEASON I JUNIOR SEASON
Team captain • ranked third on the team in scoring (9.8) and held a team-best 196 assists • ranked second in Minnesota history with 196 assists and 6.32 assists per game • only Gopher to start in every game during the 2022-23 season and recorded 1137 minutes played • opened his Minnesota career with a 17 point, 10 assist, 7 rebound game against Western Michigan (11/7) • had 12 points, eight assists and four rebounds in the Central Michigan win (11/17) • had 15 points and eight assists at Purdue (12/4) • produced 16 points and five assists vs Michigan (12/8) • scored a team-high 16 points at Wisconsin (1/3 ) • established 12 points vs. Nebraska (1/7) • added his 500th career assist in the win at Ohio State (1/12) • added a double double 13 points, 11 rebounds at OSU • posted a point/rebound double double at Michigan with a team-best 15 points, 10 rebounds • had 10 points, seven assists vs Iowa (2/12) • eight assists and four blocks vs. Penn State (2/18) • set a program-best 12 assists in a Big Ten Tournament game and also scored 16 points in the win over Nebraska (3/8).

PRIOR TO MINNESOTA
Played 95 career games and 52 starts for Morehead State • averaged 29 minutes, 8.1 points, 4.3 assists and shot 41 percent from the field during his Eagles career • was a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference in 2022 after he averaged 33.9 minutes, 9.1 points and 5.9 assists • his 202 assists last season ranked second all-time in program history, while his 5.9 apg ranked seventh in the NCAA • also had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.72 and led the team in steals when he averaged 3.1 per game • in 2020-21, played in 31 games with 11 starts and averaged 29.2 minutes, 8.2 points and 2.1 rebounds. In 2019-20 freshman campaign • saw action in 30 games, including seven starts and averaged 7.0 ppg • collected OVC Freshman of the Week honors once that season and led the team in three-point field goal percentage at 39 percent.

PREP
Played AAU for the Upward Stars Upstate and head coach David Bentley, where he averaged more than 20 points at the Best of the South Tournament • was rated one of the top five class of 2019 stock risers • averaged 26 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists for the AAU season • helped Dorman High School win state titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19 • previously attended Word of God Academy • played on same team as NBA's first overall pick, former Duke player, Zion Williamson.

PERSONAL
Originally from the Detroit area • parents are Curtis and Nataki • sports management major.