Cook's NBA odyssey set to begin
COLUMBUS — Have basketball. Will travel.
That will be Daequan Cook's mantra in June. The Ohio State freshman and NBA draft early entrant is scheduled to work out for half the league's franchises in a three-week period.
The workouts will come fast and furious — all around the country — after the Dunbar High School graduate plays in the NBA's pre-draft camp May 29 to June 4 in Orlando, Fla.
"I'm going to have to get used to it one day — playing on the next level," Daequan Cook said of the constant cycle of planes, automobiles, hotels and hoops. "It's going to be pressure — being in the situation I'm in.
"I'm not going to let a team down. If they put their time in and allow me to come down and work out for them, I'm going to give it my all."
Daequan Cook, still attending school, said he will meet the NCAA's required number of credits for freshman athletes and finish the term with a 2.90 grade-point average.
The Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year said he recently finished one class online and has made arrangements to complete an English class before his classmates finish June 8.
Daequan Cook trains in Indianapolis except when he's in Columbus for school Tuesday through Thursday. On those days, he plays pickup games with his college teammates.
It's all basketball all the time. Draft night is June 28.
"He's excited," said Dunbar assistant coach Albert Powell, who will help fund the trip and accompany Daequan Cook. "He knows the important thing is to be in shape. He doesn't get a lot of recovery time."
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