MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Tigers are in win or go home mode after an up and down season. They won four out of their final five games and the team chemistry is much improved. One Tiger in particular has been partially credited with the boost in team morale, walk-on point guard Joe Cooper.
The Memphis native is the embodiment of grit and grind. He started his college career at the junior college level and after three years of grinding it out at Northwest Mississippi and Pearl River Community College, Cooper made his dreams come true by becoming a Memphis Tiger.
“Alright, this is what I worked my whole life for. And now its time to show the world who Joe Cooper is. It was kind of a finally moment,” Cooper said.
The former Olive Branch standout has worked hard for every opportunity. During his sophomore and junior year he led the Rangers in points, assists and steals.
His standout play caught the attention of multiple D-1 programs but Cooper decided to forgo the scholarships and walk on at Memphis.
The decision was about more than just basketball.
Cooper's stepfather, Rodney Newsom played for the U of M for four seasons from 1992-96. Cooper wears the same number as his stepfather and is able to represent the city that he loves.
“He just bleeds blue," said Tigers head coach, Penny Hardaway. "When the Tigers lost the national championship game in (2008), he said he cried. That type of passion, him playing in the same uniform, he knows what it takes.”
Despite walking on at Memphis, Cooper had to achieve a near insurmountable feat to become eligible. The Hickory Hill native took 36 credits during the fall semester in order to step on the court at FedEx forum.
Cooper says he owes all the credit to God.
“A lot of prayer, a lot of long nights, a lot of long talks with God. I knew He wouldn’t give me anything I couldn’t handle. So 36 hours 12 classes it was an experience,” Cooper said.
JC applies that same work ethic on the hardwood and his teammates feed off his energy.
“As soon as Joe got eligible, he became our most vocal guy. He’s a talker, he’s kind of like an accountability partner, he’s going to hold everybody accountable. He’s going to make sure everybody is good, loud and happy,” Hardaway said.
You can only get what you put into life and Cooper has put his heart and soul into his journey to Memphis.
“It was a lot of long nights in the gym and it was dark, a lot of dark days but I just kept chipping away brick by brick by brick and I’m glad to be here," he said.