One of the top overall prospects in Arizona's 2016 class was not a household name before the start to the 2014-2015 high school basketball season. Desert Vista High School's 6-foot-1, 150-pound rising senior point guard Tarik Cool has developed himself into one of the top guard prospects in Arizona's 2016 class, and, as a result, has received two different scholarship offers this spring.
Cool is just that - cool in his demeanor on and off the floor. He has a very developed offensive skillset that allows him to make plays for himself and others, while also being a nice threat from the perimeter with unlimited range and consistency on his shot. He plays with a high level of confidence on both ends of the floor and has command presence on the basketball court.
Cool had a solid performance this high school season, where he helped lead his high school program to a runner-up finish for the Division-I state championship. He averaged 13 points and 1.9 assists per/game for a talented team that featured San Jose State signee Brandon Clarke.
Since the end to the high school season, Cool has picked up his play significantly and also raised his recruiting stock in a manner of months. As a result of his strong play on the club circuit in two NCAA evaluation period events, and also the notoriety he has received from his club coaches, the talented guard prospect earned two nice division-I scholarship offers.
Cool currently possesses two scholarship offers from Fresno State and Portland State - two big time offers for a prospect that many did not know much about before the spring evaluation period. Both programs have raised their recruiting interest in the state of Arizona as of late, and Cool has been the recipient of such increased interest. Both programs made their offers to Cool this spring. It is still unclear as to when Cool will make his college decision.
Cool has played this spring and will continue to play this summer with his club team, the Arizona Aces - a team that also features 6-foot-9 rising senior post Klay Stall. Both prospects have also benefited from each other's new found recruitment, and so it could continue to pay off for both prospects this summer.
I will be keeping a close eye on Cool this summer, see how much he continues to develop as a player and also to see how he continues to perform this summer. If the spring is any indication, this young man is in for a very good summer with more recruiting interest possibly coming his way - one of the better sleeper prospects at the guard position in the West.
