Hapoel Galil Gilboa (Winner League) landed 30-year old American 206cm forward Derek Cooke Jr. (college: Wyoming). Cooke already started the season at Brose Bamberg in German BBL league. But in two games he averaged just 1.0ppg and 1.0rpg. He also played 1 game in Basketball Champions League, but he did not score anything and had only 5 rebounds. The last season he played at Tsmoki-Minsk in Belarusian Premier League. The team played in three different competitions (!!!) that year, and he had a chance to explore basketball on different levels. In 8 Belarusian Premier League games he recorded 8.0ppg, 4.6rpg (leader !!!) and 1.6spg. Cooke helped them to win the league title. He also played 14 games in VTB United League where he got 7.9ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.6apg and 1.0spg. Cooke also played 1 game in Basketball Champions League where he got impressive 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
He has tried to make it to the NBA and played in the NBA Pro Summer League in 2016.
Cooke is a very experienced player. And here thanks to pro basketball he experienced life in seven different countries playing on three different continents. He is familiar with European, Australian and of course North American leagues. Cooke has played previously professionally in Australia (Perth Wildcats), Canada (Hamilton), Greece (Rethymno), Italy (Trieste), NBA (Phoenix Suns), NBA G League (NAZ Suns and Raptors 905 Missisauga) and The Basketball Tournament (The Money Team).
He attended University of Wyoming until 2015 and it is his seventh season in pro basketball.
Tags : DEREK COOKE JR., HAPOEL GALIL GILBOA, ISRAELI BASKETBALL, ISRAELI TRANSACTIONS, FIBA EUROPE CUP
