Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Hard Work and Determination Helped Cooper Embrace his Michigan State Career
3/5/2026 12:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Cameron Candler
For msuspartans.com
Senior captain Carson Cooper has become Michigan State basketball's quiet anchor, with his growth mirroring the program's traditional culture of hard work and determination.
The 6-foot-11 center from nearby Jackson, Mich. has played a pivotal role on both ends of the floor, helping the Spartans to a 24-5 record and a No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll entering the final week of the regular season.
Cooper had an unconventional start to his elite basketball career as a two-sport athlete, becoming an all-state soccer goalie as well as playing basketball at Jackson Northwest High School for his first two years.
"I started at Northwest and then once COVID hit, it kinda forced me to make some decisions," Cooper said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he gave up soccer and transferred to Ypsilanti Prep Academy for his junior year, playing alongside future Spartan teammate Jaden Akins, before landing at IMG Academic in Bradenton, Fla. He committed to play at MSU in May 2022.
"I have a good relationship with my coaches down at IMG," Cooper said. "I technically owe them for me being here, so it's good that you kind of build those connections with good people that want to continue to see you progress on your journey."
Cooper expected to redshirt his freshman year, but spent the year as part of the scout team and played in all but four games in 2022-23, averaging just under seven minutes per game.
"Coming in, I understood that I was going to be more of a redshirt freshman and I was okay with that because I knew that this was the kind of place I wanted to be anyway," Cooper said. "I was on the scout team for my first two years, so you know it's good for me.
"I think it's really good for early guys to do that and it's a really good way to keep your game fresh and work on things you might not be able to in other reps or practice."
In a moment where others may feel discouraged, he stayed. He bought into the program for what was best for the team, himself, and his development.
Now four years into the program and one of the team's leaders, Cooper has embraced his leadership role. That leadership was forged through years of development under Head Coach Tom Izzo.
"He's more of a quiet leader but his leadership has been really good and I'm very fortunate to have him," Izzo said.
Cooper was named one of four team captains before the season. He is a prime example of not rushing the process and showing a relentless grind. Just keep showing up, keep getting better, and when the moment comes, be ready.
He went from averaging 1.6 points and 6.6 minutes as a freshman to now, as a senior, averaging 10.3 points and 7.2 rebounds, among the top-10 in the Big Ten Conference, while playing more than 25 minutes per game. Cooper has scored in double figures 16 times, including a career-high 20 points in a win over Ohio State in late February.
"If you look at where Coop started and where he is, I should never be mad at Coop because he just continues to make progress every year," Izzo said. "And I don't think he's done playing basketball. I think his best basketball is ahead of him."
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For msuspartans.com
Senior captain Carson Cooper has become Michigan State basketball's quiet anchor, with his growth mirroring the program's traditional culture of hard work and determination.
The 6-foot-11 center from nearby Jackson, Mich. has played a pivotal role on both ends of the floor, helping the Spartans to a 24-5 record and a No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll entering the final week of the regular season.
Cooper had an unconventional start to his elite basketball career as a two-sport athlete, becoming an all-state soccer goalie as well as playing basketball at Jackson Northwest High School for his first two years.
"I started at Northwest and then once COVID hit, it kinda forced me to make some decisions," Cooper said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he gave up soccer and transferred to Ypsilanti Prep Academy for his junior year, playing alongside future Spartan teammate Jaden Akins, before landing at IMG Academic in Bradenton, Fla. He committed to play at MSU in May 2022.
"I have a good relationship with my coaches down at IMG," Cooper said. "I technically owe them for me being here, so it's good that you kind of build those connections with good people that want to continue to see you progress on your journey."
Cooper expected to redshirt his freshman year, but spent the year as part of the scout team and played in all but four games in 2022-23, averaging just under seven minutes per game.
"Coming in, I understood that I was going to be more of a redshirt freshman and I was okay with that because I knew that this was the kind of place I wanted to be anyway," Cooper said. "I was on the scout team for my first two years, so you know it's good for me.
"I think it's really good for early guys to do that and it's a really good way to keep your game fresh and work on things you might not be able to in other reps or practice."
In a moment where others may feel discouraged, he stayed. He bought into the program for what was best for the team, himself, and his development.
Now four years into the program and one of the team's leaders, Cooper has embraced his leadership role. That leadership was forged through years of development under Head Coach Tom Izzo.
"He's more of a quiet leader but his leadership has been really good and I'm very fortunate to have him," Izzo said.
Cooper was named one of four team captains before the season. He is a prime example of not rushing the process and showing a relentless grind. Just keep showing up, keep getting better, and when the moment comes, be ready.
He went from averaging 1.6 points and 6.6 minutes as a freshman to now, as a senior, averaging 10.3 points and 7.2 rebounds, among the top-10 in the Big Ten Conference, while playing more than 25 minutes per game. Cooper has scored in double figures 16 times, including a career-high 20 points in a win over Ohio State in late February.
"If you look at where Coop started and where he is, I should never be mad at Coop because he just continues to make progress every year," Izzo said. "And I don't think he's done playing basketball. I think his best basketball is ahead of him."
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Players Mentioned
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