Cooper Campbell brings advanced maturity and shooting skills to Troy after playing in Overtime Elite League
The Troy’s men’s basketball season tipped off this past Monday and freshman guard Cooper Campbell made his collegiate debut. The 19-year-old clocked in for eight minutes and recorded two assists in the Trojans 84-74 win over Toledo, the MAC’s four-time reigning champion.
Campbell’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet. In his first game at the collegiate level, Campbell came off the bench to run point. His composure and patience stood out the most, making quick decisions to break the Rockets press and he was able to dish out a pair of dimes in his limited action.
The first game of the season is always a test. Players get their feet wet, coaches get to evaluate their teams in a live situation, the chemistry between teammates starts flowing. Campbell’s elite background allowed him to take this test by the horns.
“Every day at practice and at every game you are playing against players that are at a higher level than normal high school players,” Campbell said. “Being able to play at that level of competition helped me prepare for the next level.”
Campbell spent the last two years of his high school career at Phhoenix Prep, an elite basketball academy in Phoenix, Arizona. In his senior year, Phhoenix Prep started a team in the Overtime Elite league, more widely known as OTE.
The OTE is a league that was founded in 2021 and is owned by popular sports brand Overtime that puts some of the best high school basketball talent against each other. The OTE is the home of young superstars Amen and Ausar Thompson, who made NBA history as the first pair of siblings to be drafted in the top 10 of the same NBA draft in 2023.
John Ortega, Campbell’s former head coach and the current head coach of the OTE Diamond Doves, has over 20 years of coaching experience and has sent almost 200 kids to college to continue their basketball careers. Campbell says that Ortega had a big influence on his development.
“He’s one of my favorite coaches that I have ever had,” Campbell said. “He played a big part in my recruitment and so he means a lot to me.”
Before the start of Troy’s 2024 season, head coach Scott Cross said that Campbell will be a part of the rotation immediately. This news was huge for the freshman who was joining a roster that had 11 returning players from last season.
When asked about this decision, Cross mentioned Campbell’s experience and mindset.
“Cooper makes great decisions with the basketball and has some toughness and grit to him,” Cross said. “He played at a really high level with the OTE league against some high division one basketball recruits.
“He started and played almost every single minute for his team in that league, and he is really smart and fits what our team is about. I feel 100% confident with him on the floor.”
Cross also mentioned that Campbell has the potential to be an all-conference player like former Trojan Aamer Muhammad. Cross praised Campbell’s talent coming into his first year.
“Cooper is way ahead of typical freshman,” Cross said. “He is closer to a junior college level of player because he played at such a high level.
“The biggest adjustment that he will have to make is the level of physicality and defense that collegiate ball takes. He has already made tremendous strides just in the short time that he has been here.”
From Puyallup, Washington to Pheonix, Arizona and now Troy, Alabama, Campbell has gone across the country competing against some of the best basketball prospects in the nation. The freshman superstar takes the court again this Saturday in Louisiana when the Trojans take on New Orleans at Lakefront Arena.
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