Forward Tyler Cook will return to Iowa for his junior season
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the first time in four years, Fran McCaffery doesn't have to replace his leading scorer.
That became official on Wednesday when 6-foot-9 forward Tyler Cook withdrew his name from the 2018 NBA Draft in order to return to Iowa for his junior season.
“I am excited to return to Iowa for my junior season,” Cook said in a release. “I am grateful for the opportunities and feedback that I have received from NBA personnel. I am thankful for coach McCaffery and the coaching staff for their assistance and patience with me during this process. I thank God for the experiences that I had and progress I have made during this time. I can’t wait to get back to work and continue to try to lead this team back to the NCAA Tournament. I appreciate the love and support by all during this process.”
Cook had until 10:59 p.m. CST on May 30th to withdraw from the draft in order to retain his college eligibility.
The St. Louis native led Iowa in scoring and rebounding this past season with per-game averages of 15.3 and 6.8, respectively. He also led the team in field-goal percentage (.566) and free throws made with 121.
His decision to return to Iowa came a day after shooting guard Isaiah Moss announced that he also would return to Iowa for his junior season. The 6-5 Moss also had tested in the NBA Draft process.
Cook's decision to return breaks a streak of four consecutive years in which McCaffery has had to replace his leading scorer from the previous season. It started with Devyn Marble in 2014 followed by Aaron White in 2015, Jarrod Uthoff in 2016 and Peter Jok in 2017.
"We are happy to have Tyler back for his junior season,” McCaffery said in the release. “Tyler is an extremely talented young man who will continue to work tirelessly to reach his potential and ultimate goal of playing in the NBA. We encouraged Tyler to take advantage of this process and take as long as he needed and I’m proud of how he went through this process. Tyler did well in his workouts and interviews, which will bode well for him next year when he goes through the process again. He has had a significant impact on our basketball team the past two seasons and we look forward to Tyler improving his overall skillset and being a leader for us next season.”
Cook stays with an Iowa team that fell far short of meeting expectations this past season, finishing 14-19 overall and just 4-14 in the Big Ten. Iowa was considered a potential NCAA-caliber team heading into the 2017-18 season with four starters returning from a team that had won 19 games the previous season and barely missed making the NCAA Tournament.
But the team struggled for lots of reasons, including being a sieve on defense.
Junior point guard Jordan Bohannon and sophomore center Luka Garza give McCaffery two potential star players to build around, along with Cook and Moss. However, all four players struggled on defense last season and that is an area where Iowa has to improve.
There will be pressure on the Iowa players, and especially on Cook, to prove that this past season was a fluke or just a temporary setback.
If Cook had his preference, he already would be playing in the NBA because that is his ultimate dream. But he tested the waters and learned that he wasn't ready to make the jump.
Cook now has to shift his focus back to being a student-athlete. He has to dedicate himself to improving within the framework of the team in order to help Iowa's chemistry.
He should have a better understanding of what he needs to compete in the NBA from a skills standpoint after having worked out for at least six teams, including the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets. He apparently was convinced that he isn't ready for the NBA, and that another year at Iowa would be his best option.
It's always hard to argue with a decision that includes another year of school.
Cook also has to improve in addition to defense his medium-range jump shot, his ball handling and his rebounding. He just isn't ready for the NBA yet, but McCaffery said recently on KCJJ radio that Cook could develop into a first-round draft pick with a strong junior season.
That seems like a reach at this point, but Cook will have the opportunity to prove McCaffery right.
Cook was the last Big Ten underclassmen to reveal his decision about the draft. Wisconsin forward Ethan Happ and Michigan small forward Charles Matthews both confirmed on Wednesday that they will return to college, while Maryland swingman Kevin Huerter will stay in the draft.
Other Big Ten underclassmen who plan to stay in the draft include Penn State point guard Tony Carr, Michigan State forwards Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson and Michigan center Moritz Wagner.
Maryland center Bruno Fernando, Indiana forward Juwan Morgan, Nebraska guard James Palmer, Nebraska forward Isaac Copeland and Purdue guard Carsen Edwards all recently withdrew from the draft and will return to college.
Cook announced that he would test the NBA Draft process shortly after this past season.
Moss made the same announcement shortly thereafter, but McCaffery said on KCJJ radio two weeks ago that he fully expected Moss to return for his junior season.
Cook came to Iowa as a coveted four-star recruit who had scholarship offers from multiple power five schools. He was a top-100 prospect nationally, as were former Iowa players Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury in their class. But Gesell and Woodbury both grew up in or around Sioux City, while Cook is from St. Louis where Iowa doesn't have much tradition from a recruiting standpoint.
Cook's commitment showed that McCaffery could compete against the major schools for a heralded recruit with no Iowa ties.
And now Cook's decision to return to Iowa for his junior season gives McCaffery a force to build around for at least onre more year.