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Before a
packed house, Lincoln coach Neil Alexander thanked Cook for all the years
together. In a brief ceremony between last night's sophomore and
varsity games, Alexander retired Cook's jersey, No. 34, which is now
framed and on display in the LCHS trophy case.
Cook,
thanking Alexander in kind, presented an LA Lakers jersey to be put
on display in the trophy case also. Cook thanked the coach and everyone
from the community for all the support he had throughout his
high school and college career.
Graduating from the University of Illinois last May, Cook fulfilled a
dream to enter the NBA draft. He was first pick by LA Lakers and
24th pick in the NBA draft last spring.
During a
press conference before the ceremony, Cook answered questions on how
things have been going in his new career. He said he is disappointed
that he has gotten hurt. He broke a finger a couple of weeks before the
opening of the season and was out the first several games. He now
has a broken little finger on his other hand.
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Between the injuries Cook has gotten some time in on the floor and
had great success.
The NBA has been different from college or high school. He said he
has not gotten involved in the Hollywood stuff, though it would be
easy enough.
Cook said that practices and play are faster and more physical than
in college ball. He likes that the practices aren't as long. To make
up for the shorter practices, the new guys usually stay afterward to put
in extra time to practice on their own.
Even though his broken finger is on his writing hand, to the thrill
of his fans Cook stayed and signed autographs for about a half-hour
after the game.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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