Cook adds heat to his recipe for success with Bulldogs
While utilizing a six-footfour frame, the Grade 11 version of Emmett Cook was mostly skin and bones, weighing only 172 pounds.
The new and improved version, not so much.
Despite being one of the best high school players in Calgary last year, Cook knew he needed to bulk up to take on CIS competition next year.
So in the summer, preparing for his last season with the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs, he spent a month in Arizona at the Athletes Performance training facility.
Thanks to four hours in the weight room and two more hours on the court every day, he definitely reached his goal.
With the similar frame, he added 43 pounds by midSeptember before cutting down a few lbs. in time for the regular season.
“I was able to keep the strength I had at 215, but now I’m playing at about 205 and I’m still able to maintain my quickness and speed,” Cook said Wednesday as his Bulldogs prepared for a semifinal matchup against St. Mary’s High School in the Calgary Basketball Classic.
“That’s one of the biggest things I’ve noticed this year is how much stronger I am in games and how much faster I am than last year and that’s definitely a positive for me.”
Asked to describe what Arizona was like in the dead of summer, he replied simply — “hot.”
“It was 40 degrees every day. It gave me the chance to go down there with a goal to get bigger and I did.”
It’s been the summer of change for Cook, who also had to deal with the idea of picking where he was going to play college ball.
A smooth shooter who can stretch the floor, he had half a dozen offers on both sides of the border. It eventually came down to the University of Calgary and University of Saskatchewan.
But he decided to stay at home and become a Dino starting next season.
“It gives me an opportunity to stay home with family and friends that I’ve known for a long time,” he said. “At the same time, I’ll be living on residence so it will give me some independence and I can still go home for a home-cooked meal.
“In a few years, they will have a solid team, they picked up some really good rookies this year.”
While it’s smart to make the decision early, his head coach hopes it doesn’t lessen his drive for a high school title.
“I hope it’s taken the pressure off but not the hunger away,” said Mike Fullerton. “He’s reached his goal but now he’s got to remain there.”
With a well-balanced team, the Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 in this week’s Calgary Basketball Classic.
Having already dominated Bowness and Father Lacombe earlier in the week, the Bulldogs were set up against St. Mary’s in the semifinals Thursday night. The scores were not available at press time.
The winner of that game will take on the winner between Bishop Grandin and Bishop O’Byrne for a chance at the title on Saturday starting at 7 p.m. at Crescent Heights High School.
The women’s A side championship will go at 4:30 p.m. at Crescent Heights School.