Zia Cooke was hoping her basketball skill might open up the world for her someday, and the Rogers standout got her first taste of that earlier this month when she traveled to Argentina and brought back gold.
Cooke, who recently completed her sophomore year, helped lead USA Basketball’s 16-and-under national team to a FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Americas tournament championship in Buenos Aires.
The Rams’ talented 5-foot-9 point guard was one of four USA team members to average in double figures scoring as the 16U squad easily swept its way to the title with a 5-0 record.
In the gold medal game in early June, Cooke had 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists as the USA pounded Canada 91-46.
“It was an amazing experience,” Cooke said. “I tried out for it my seventh grade year, and I didn’t make it past the first cut. So, I had a big weight on my shoulders about that. I really wanted to make the team this time.”
The USA 16U team advanced to the medal round with one-sided wins against Colombia (91-33 on June 7), Mexico (100-37, June 8), and Puerto Rico (79-32, June 9) in pool play.
They defeated the national team from host Argentina, 98-42, on June 10 to earn the gold medal matchup with Canada.
VIDEO: Zia Cooke returns from Argentina with gold medal
Cooke averaged 10.8 points in the five games, joining three other USA teammates who scored between 10.8 and 11.0 points to lead the team in the tournament.
“The best part of it was seeing all the different kinds of players who were just as good as me, and playing against the best,” Cooke said. “Going to Argentina was a great experience, going out of the country for the first time.”
Winning the tournament was the easy part for Cooke, who first had to survive the USA national team’s tryouts May 5-June 4 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Invitations went out to 150 of the nation’s top 16-and-under players, and 138 of them came to the tryouts.
Cooke was one of 12 players chosen to the final roster.
“It was most definitely harder making the team than winning that tournament,” Cooke said. “I was scared until it got to about the fourth cut. I started to realize what the coaches wanted from me as a point guard.”
This USA Basketball experience is just the latest step in Cooke’s climb up the basketball ladder toward higher goals.
Those include earning a scholarship to a major Division I college program, playing in future national team tournaments, and reaching the Women’s National Basketball Association.
“I’ve got more confidence, and I’m hungrier for it now,” Cooke said of her basketball aspirations.
“It was once a dream, and I made it happen. Now I want to work hard so I can make it happen again.
“The next step is to get a state championship for my high school team and, by the end of my junior year, find out what college I’m going to.”
Making her mark
Cooke appears destined to join the short list of the Toledo’s most accomplished female basketball talents, along with players like 2010 Waite grad Natasha Howard — who starred in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Florida State before beginning her WNBA career in 2014 — and 1998 Central Catholic grad Ericka Haney, who started on Notre Dame’s 2001 NCAA championship team.
Howard’s pro teams — the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx — lost in the WNBA’s playoff finals the past two seasons, both times 3-2 in best of five series.
According to her mother, Michelle Cooke, Zia has 55 college scholarship offers, including those from top national programs.
The top five on Cooke’s current wish list are Ohio State, UConn, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Maryland. All of those except UConn, the gold standard in women’s college basketball, have made scholarship offers.
According to ESPN’s HoopGurlz.com website, Cooke is the 14th ranked player overall in the nation for the class of 2019, and is the fourth-rated point guard nationally in her class.
Midway through her high school career at Rogers, Cooke has 898 points in 53 games (16.9 average).
“I think I’m pretty good, but I don’t think I’m where I need to be yet,” Cooke said. “I feel like I’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
This past season as a sophomore, she averaged 22.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.4 steals per game for a young Rams team that finished 16-9 overall, won a sixth straight City League playoff championship, and advanced to the Division II district semifinals before losing 56-55 to Oak Harbor.
Cooke was the City League co-player of the year along with Start senior Mariah White, was picked to the Division II all-district first team, and was named second team All-Ohio.
Strong beginning
Cooke’s basketball journey began when she played on her first organized team in the fourth grade, but she was no overnight success. Cooke had some raw skills that needed to be harnessed.
By eighth grade, however, she had developed to the point of being rated as one of the nation’s top talents in her age group.
Her quick rise athletically grew inside her house, in the back yard, and in her neighborhood, as she stalked one athlete in particular.
“My brother is my hero,” Cooke said of Stratman Cooke IV, 21. “He’s the reason I’m doing everything I’m doing now. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Zia tagged along and wanted to do everything her brother did. Stratman IV always made time to teach his little sister the games, and work with her on the finer points, like great passes and diving football catches in the back yard. Now, he might be her biggest fan.
“We tried to do the unique things from the sports,” Stratman IV said. “It was like seeking perfection. Now that she’s older, those unique things are easy for her.
I’m very proud of her.”
Zia added: “The only reason I started any sport is because of my brother. He is the reason I’m playing basketball now.”
Zia’s obsession with mirroring her older brother’s activities led her to break ground in the Mid-City youth football league, where she became the first girl to play that sport. She played quarterback for the Mid-City Colts, and not only survived but excelled.
“I saw him play football and I wanted to play football,” Zia said. “Any sport he played I wanted to play. Football helped me a lot with my quickness, catching a ball, and being tough.”
Neither of Zia’s parents — Stratman Cooke III or Michelle Cooke — played basketball, so their daughter’s skill level is a source of amazement to the Toledo couple.
“You know, I’ve trained her,” Stratman III said, “but, every day, I’m shocked by her. I cannot believe that this is my little girl.”
“I’m very excited for Zia and for what the future holds for her. For her to play at that level of competition with so many different countries with their great players, and do as well as she did, was exciting for me.”
Mom is equally impressed.
“Looking at her from the time she was a little kid up to now is just amazing how’s she’s developed into this good player,” Michelle Cooke said. “I never thought that she would be playing basketball. I thought she was going to be a little girlie-girl, with little dresses and all that.
“Going forward, I just want her to pursue her dreams. She has a desire to go to the WNBA. I want her to reach that goal. I’d also like to see her go to college and get her degree and a career.
“First of all, I want Zia to have fun playing the game. I also want her to do her best and strive for the top.”
Rams success
Upon entering Rogers, Cooke joined a deep, talented veteran team that had reached the D-II state semifinals in 2014, and the D-II state championship game in 2015.
The Rams were upset (48-46) in the 2016 regional final by eventual state runner-up Ottawa-Glandorf.
After being hit hard by graduation, Rogers battled through a tough non-league schedule this past season before winning the City League playoff crown and reaching the district semifinal. As the Rams mature as a team, expectations are high for the next two seasons, especially with Cooke leading the way.
“Zia can do it all,” said Rogers head coach Lamar Smith. “From inside, driving and attacking the basket, to shooting 3s. Her game is really improving right now.
“She’s playing more in her age bracket after playing up the past two years, and we’re seeing a lot of good things out of her. She’s passing the ball well now, and she’s not forcing things as much as when she was as a freshman and sophomore.
Smith is in constant contact with college coaches regarding Cooke’s recruitment.
“Everyone is calling for her right now,” Smith said. “At some point, she’s going to sit down with her family and myself and make her decision. But she’s just enjoying the moment right now.
“She’s special. She could be one of the best guards ever to come out of Toledo if she keeps working. The sky’s the limit. If she keeps on putting in the work, she’ll be fine.”
VIDEO: Zia Cooke, Jared Anderson honored by Toledo mayor
Stratman Cooke III sees a basketball future for his daughter beyond high school and college, and wants her to maximize her potential in all aspects.
“I want her master the game and one day figure out how to own it,” he said. “I want her to have endorsements and learn how to promote herself. The women’s game is not a real high-price game like the men’s game. She’s going to have to learn how to use her brain, not just her basketball skills.”
In preparation for her future, Cooke is also committed to academics.
“I take school very seriously,” Zia said. “My dad does not play when it comes to grades. School comes before basketball, and I have to make sure my homework is done before I play any basketball.
“I have a 3.5 [grade-point average] right now, and my goal is to get a 4.0 for my junior year.”
Contact Steve Junga at: sjunga@theblade.com, or 419-724-6461 or on Twitter @JungaBlade.
First Published June 25, 2017, 4:31 a.m.
