Sports
D.J. Cooper Is The Best Passer In College Basketball According To ESPN’s Bilas
By: Pat Chiesa
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D.J. Cooper is in the midst of arguably the finest season of his Bobcat career. His field goal percentage (.441) and 3-point field goal percentage (.350) are higher than ever, and he is averaging 2.5 more assists per game than last season despite playing nearly two minutes less per game. Cooper is currently tied for 20th all-time in career assists for Division I players with 855.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas has taken notice of Cooper's pinpoint passing, naming him the top passer in college basketball in his Weekly Report.
"He can absolutely pass it but more important than that, D.J. Cooper can absolutely play," Bilas said. "He's among the best point guards in the country."
Cooper is tops in the nation in assist rate, which is assists made divided by the field goals made by a player's teammates while he is on the court. The Chicago native also ranks tied for second in assists per game with 8.2 and fourth in total assists with 162.
No other player in the top 10 for assists per game and total assists averages less minutes per game than Cooper.
Six times this season Cooper has posted 10 or more helpers in a single game, including a career-high 17 dimes in Ohio's blowout win over Marshall on Jan. 5.
Rounding out Bilas' top six are Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams, UCLA's Larry Drew II, Matthew Dellavadova of St. Mary's, Jason Brickman of LIU Brooklyn and Michigan's Trey Burke.
Here is the link: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8892157