Ta'Lon Cooper

AWARDS/HONORS

• Second Team All-SEC (2024)
• First Team All-Ohio Valley (2022)

2023-24 (GRADUATE)

• Played and started all 34 games, helping the Gamecocks tie a program record with 26 wins en route to returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017
• Averaged 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game (led the team and ranked fifth in the SEC) en route to earning Second Team All-SEC honors
• Finished his career one of seven active players in the country with 700-plus career assists and 1,300-plus career points
• His 3.51 assist-to-turnover ratio was eighth in the country and second in the SEC
• Was first Gamecock since Devan Downey in 2008-09 to average 4.0 or more assists per game ; his 144 total assists were the 10th-most in a single-season in program history
• Shot career-best 48.0 percent from the floor (121-of-252) and 45.9 percent from 3 (56-of-122) ; his 3-point field goal percentage led the team and was the fifth-highest 3-point percentage in program history (min. 30 made 3FGs)
• Scored in double-figures 18 times (13 times in SEC play) with five or more assists in 14 games ; led the team in assists in 21 of 34 games
• Had back-to-back games with seven assists and zero turnovers in early season wins over Virginia Tech (Nov. 10) and VMI (Nov. 13)
• Scored 14 points with eight assists in a blowout win over George Washington (Dec. 1) ; went 4-of-6 from distance as the team sunk a school record 18 3s
• Finished with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in a rout against Elon (Dec. 22)
• During the team’s seven-game SEC win streak, scored in double figures six times
• Matched a career-high with 20 points in the team’s win over No. 6/6 Kentucky (Jan. 23) ; also had five rebounds and five assists against the Wildcats, going an efficient 8-of-11 from the floor
• Led the team with 18 points, five rebounds and two assists in a win at No. 5/5 Tennessee (Jan. 30) ; was the Gamecocks’ first true road win over a top-five opponent since 1997
• Scored 10 points and dished out eight assists in a comeback victory at Georgia (Feb. 3)
• Nearly had a triple-double in a road win at Texas A&M (Feb. 28) with 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds
• Finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assist and a steal in a win over Arkansas (March 14), the Gamecocks’ first SEC Tournament victory since 2018
• Had 15 points and seven assists in the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament against Oregon (March 21)

PRE-SOUTH CAROLINA

• In four collegiate seasons, has played in 126 games, averaging 8.5 points, 4.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game
• Ended the last season 21^st on the NCAA active leaders for career assists list with 603
• Spent the 2022-23 season at Minnesota ; served as team captain starting all 30 games for the Gophers
• Averaged 9.9 points (third on team) and 6.3 assists per game (led team) ; his 196 assists were 12^th in the country and his assist per game average was seventh nationally
• He also averaged 37 minutes per game and led the team in minutes played (1,096) ; he had 16 double-figure outings and 21 games with five or more assists (three with double-figure assists) in his lone season at Minnesota
• In three seasons at Morehead State, played in 95 games making 52 starts
• He averaged 8.1 points and 4.3 assists per game for the Eagles
• Earned First Team All-OVC honors in 2022 after averaging 9.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.1 steals per game
• Helped team to an OVC title in 2021 and an NCAA Tournament appearances ; played two seasons with All-SEC forward Johni Broome of Auburn while at Morehead

PRE-COLLEGE

• Attended Dorman High School (Roebuck, S.C.) and helped lead the team to back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019
• Played AAU for Upward Stars Upstate and averaged 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game

PERSONAL

• Son of Curtis and Nataki ; has a brother, Curtis Jr., and a pair of sissters, Carneisha and Zakiya
• Graduated with a degree in sport management from Minnesota
• Born on Nov. 26, 1999
• Chose South Carolina to be closer to home and play in front of family and friends for final season of college eligibility
• Would like to become a coach when playing days are over
• List Space Jam as favorite movie
• Dream car is 1968 Mustang
• Magic Johnson is favorite NBA player to watch and learn from
• Ribs with Mac and Cheese is favorite meal
• Enjoys playing video games and roller skating in his free time
• Advice to younger self and young people is to stay the course – everything happens for a reason