Team Trae Young rising star Kaden Cooper is keeping it in the family and at home, committing on Saturday to play his college basketball at The University of Oklahoma.
Kaden announced his decision in a video posted to his Twitter page.
IM HOME ! ❤️? #boomsoon #obk pic.twitter.com/07pmLk7ZIR
— ℹ️ℹ️. ? (@kaden580) November 12, 2022
“I chose OU because it’s home,” he told ESPN. “I had other good options. When it comes down to it, you can’t ask for anything better but to be able to develop and become a pro doing what you love where you love.”
2023 Top-50 recruit Kaden Cooper has committed to Oklahoma.
More here: https://t.co/U3isgm6AQQ pic.twitter.com/rHFwj08N7C
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) November 12, 2022
Oklahoma keeps Kaden Cooper home.
Super high-upside wing. https://t.co/HCiiQ2TzKM
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein) November 12, 2022
Oklahoma locks down an elite wing athlete in Kaden Cooper.
Explosive, long and hard-nosed competitor with an enticing defensive profile. Recruitment spread nationally after a massive summer with @teamtraeyoungmb, but the Sooners keep the high-flyer close to home. https://t.co/kAPQYVFnQN
— Max Feldman (@MaxFeldman6) November 12, 2022
2023 4 ⭐️ Kaden Cooper (@kaden580) has committed to Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/CrvSBoiI6b
— Alex Karamanos (@TheCircuitAlex) November 12, 2022
2023 4⭐️ Kaden Cooper told me he has committed to Oklahoma and Porter Moser.
Cooper is one of the best athletes in the ‘23 class and an excellent two-way player. A fantastic defender and a great finisher around the rim.
He chose Oklahoma over Gonzaga, Alabama, LSU and Kansas. pic.twitter.com/nYqUnLeTTH
— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) November 12, 2022
Kaden, who is a consensus Top 100 prospect and ranked inside the Top 50 by ESPN, had previously narrowed his list to Oklahoma, Kansas, LSU and Gonzaga. He cited his connection with OU Head Coach Porter Moser, who took over the reins when Lon Kruger — Trae’s coach at Oklahoma — retired in 2021, as a big reason for his choice beyond wanting to stay home and play for his home team.
“Coach Moser is a different kind of coach,” he said. “I can connect and talk with him about more than basketball. He’s smart and I think he understands the game at a very high level. He showed me that he’s devoted to making me a better player and a better person.”
Kaden’s commitment is a huge boost for Oklahoma’s recruiting class, giving them a second Top 100 prospect for the second straight year.
The Ada, Oklahoma native who plays his high school ball in Atlanta, is excited to head home to Oklahoma and help the Sooners, get back to consistently winning the Big 12, playing in the NCAA Tournament and hopefully win a national championship.
“I feel that with the cards I was dealt, there’s no way I could’ve said no to staying home and leading my team to something amazing,” he said.