Darren Cooper

I’ve been playing organized basketball since I was about five or six years old. From the beginning, it was all I wanted to do. I remember spending hours outside working on my shot and running inside to show my mom how good I was getting. But my mom was no ordinary mom—she had a competitive spirit of her own. People in our neighborhood would tell me, “Do you know who your mom is, youngin’? She was so cold she had grown men crying.” She wasn’t impressed by a few shots on a small basket, but she passed that competitiveness down to me. I tried for years to outshoot her, and I didn’t come close until high school—though that was only because she developed a pinched nerve in her neck. So truthfully, I still haven’t beaten her in a game of H-O-R-S-E.

My mom saw my potential early and introduced me to my first coaches—Coach Lee and Coach Miles, the fathers of my fellow PIL Hall of Fame brothers Aaron Miles and Michael Lee. Playing with Cisco Kids gave me discipline, structure, and fundamentals that are with me to this day. We always played against kids one or two grades above us, and that challenge helped us grow. Living on the same block made it easy for Aaron, Michael, and me to come together and push each other every day. Coach Lee and Coach Miles laid down a foundation built on love and dedication that I’ll never forget.

At Whitaker Middle School, I met Coach Lou Bain through Benson alum Robert Day. Coach Bain gave me an identity as a player and pushed me into competition against older kids, which accelerated my development. That period truly shaped who I was becoming.

In high school, I had a big choice. My family had deep ties with Jefferson and its legacy, but most of my old teammates were headed to Benson. After tech night, I followed them there. At Benson, I grew under the guidance of great coaches and alongside incredible teammates. Coach Pat Strickland was a familiar face from my childhood. Coach Troy Berry introduced me to AAU basketball, which opened my eyes to how the game could pave the way to college. Coach Emry and Coach Waiwaiole reminded me constantly about fundamentals, consistency, and controlling emotions — never getting too high or too low. And when Coach Earl Clark joined the staff, he added a new toughness to my game, both mentally and physically.

I’ll never forget the atmosphere at the Chiles Center during my junior and senior years—over 5,000 fans packed in for sold-out matchups against Jefferson. Those moments prepared me for the next step, because ironically, I would later call the Chiles Center home when I played for the University of Portland.

At Portland, I had the privilege of working with Coach Rasheed Hazzard, son of the late great Walt Hazzard. He took my game and my mindset to another level, teaching me how to train and prepare like a professional. His belief in me, even when I didn’t always see it myself, will always hold a special place in my heart.

I have to thank every one of my teammates, administrators, coaches, and even my competition, for molding me into who I am today. From Aaron Miles and Michael Lee, to Robert Day, to all my Benson teammates and opponents across the PIL— I carry lessons from every one of you.

Most importantly, I thank my mom for her love, support, and for planting that competitive fire in me from the beginning. I also want to thank the PIL staff, and Leon McKenzie for this nomination and recognition.

And finally, I thank my wife. For the past 17 years, her love, sacrifice, and support have allowed me to live one of the most fulfilling lives anyone could ask for.

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