"Built Different: The Big Guard Battling for His Shot"

Cooper Burge

@CooperBurge16

IG: @coopburge

6’1, 140lbs, Class of 2026

Madisonville North Hopkins, KY

Cooper plays with an edge that can’t be taught and a heart that can’t be measured. He’s a long, explosive, high-motor guard with a vertical that surprises and a presence that disrupts. His interior defense stands tall, his finishing at the rim is fearless, and his nose for rebounds makes him a problem on both ends. He thrives in the mid-range, using his length and timing to carve out tough buckets. What makes him even more dangerous is the way he sees fear before a defender even tries and feeds off it, locking in when the lights come on and the game gets real. This is a kid who won’t quit. A kid who fights for every inch. One who brings raw energy, untapped upside, and a chip on his shoulder that never seems to fade.

Cooper’s AAU season has been the stage where his fire has caught a spark. Averaging 15 points per game, he’s proven he can produce not just on stat sheets but in moments that matter. In one of the most defining games of his AAU season, Cooper helped lead his squad back from a 20-point deficit to within two, stepping into a leadership role and delivering when everything was on the line. His improvement has been dramatic, learning to embrace his role, carry his team, and trust himself on the floor. This offseason, his grind is focused on tightening his handle and becoming more disruptive on the perimeter. He’s locked in on becoming a complete two-way player, and every workout, every rep, and every shot is fueled by the fire to prove he belongs. What drives him? The pain of quitting once before and the promise to never do it again.

While many lace up for school teams, Cooper’s found his fire outside the system, on the courts where the overlooked grind the hardest. He’s chasing exposure through AAU events, looking to build chemistry with a team he can grow with, and is eager for the opportunity to compete at Circuit of the Champions in Madisonville this May. His goals are simple—get better, see, and get a shot. He's looking at every option available for a high school, prep school, or sticking with AAU—whatever it takes to keep the dream alive. For Cooper, the court is his sanctuary, and the game is unfinished business.

His love for the game started early, paused by a pandemic, and nearly derailed by doubt. But he found his way back. From a 6th grade ABA championship to quitting in middle school, from making a high school team and walking away to hearing a coach say he wouldn’t develop fast enough, Cooper has heard the word “no” more than most. But what separates him is what he did after. He didn’t fold. He fought. He returned to the gym. He returned to himself. And through it all, his faith in God has remained the one thing stronger than any setback. He believes he’s still standing for a reason, still grinding for a purpose, and still dreaming because God’s not done writing his story.

Cooper is a battle-tested big guard with unique athletic tools, emotional toughness, and the hunger to keep climbing. His ability to score at the rim, crash the boards, and protect the paint as a guard gives him an edge that can impact a college program willing to invest in his development. His growth mindset and willingness to lead, even without a traditional path, are exactly the kind of intangibles college coaches crave in culture-setters.

Expect a player who hasn’t hit his ceiling yet but is clawing toward it every day. If Cooper finds the right program and receives the mentorship he’s been missing, his combination of vertical pop, length, and heart could turn heads fast. He’s a relentless underdog with nothing to lose and everything to prove—and those are the ones you should never bet against. Stay tuned.