Tuesday, April 30   

ROCK HILL, SC-Winthrop University men’s basketball coach Gregg Marshall has announced the signing of 6-5 forward/guard Marcus Cooke from Indian Hills Community College in Iowa to a national letter-of-intent. He joins 6-8 Billy Houston, 6-5 James Shuler, 6-8 Kwbana Beckles and 6-1 shooting guard Elijah Holland as players who will join the four-time defending Big South Conference champions squad for the 2002-2003 season.

Cooke, who is from Concord, NC, will have two years of eligibility remaining at Winthrop. He is a highly regarded basketball player who was being recruited by Florida State, Oklahoma State, South Alabama and Marshall. Cooke led coach Lorenzo Watkins’ Indian Hills team to a 29-5 record in 2001-2002 and a No. 10 ranking in the final National Junior College Division I poll.

As a sophomore, he averaged 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. During his freshman year, Cooke averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while playing back-up to JUCO All-American Jerome Harper and was voted the Iowa Junior College Newcomer of the Year. As a high school performer at Concord H.S., he was selected team most valuable player and first-team All-Conference as a junior and senior, and earned All-State honors.

"Marcus is as athletic and complete scorer from the wing as I have ever coached at Winthrop," said Marshall. "With his speed, jump shooting and ability to finish down on the rim, he will be able to take over the game offensively at times and will be an exciting player for the Winthrop faithful to watch for the next two years."

Marcus is the son of Debra Cooke.