Some athletes spread it around a little in high school, trying their hand at several sports and looking for the fit that will get them to the next level.
For Kathleen “Kat” Cooper, the Auburn Reporter Female Prep Athlete of the Year, however, it’s been all about basketball.
Since she first made the Auburn Riverside varsity squad as a freshman, Cooper has been an integral part of the Ravens’ machine, helping the program to two state titles with her on-court presence at the wing position.
And it’s paid off for the 6-foot senior. Starting this summer, Cooper will play for the NCAA Division I Boston College Eagles.
“I actually leave June 25, and soon as I get there, I start orientation and summer school,” Cooper said.
Cooper plans on getting a head start on her academics, taking a public speaking and computer graphics course over the summer before starting regular classes in the fall.
She also is excited about the chance to get started on the court. On Aug. 11, Cooper will join the Eagles as they compete in a 10-day tournament in the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
“I just got my passport and I’m ready to go,” Cooper said. “We actually get to start working out as a team and playing together.”
Cooper verbally committed to Boston College before her senior season, capitalizing on the Ravens’ 29-0 run at the state 4A championship during her junior year. That season, Cooper averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds a game and was named to the all-state first team.
“Kathleen Cooper has a ‘bulldog’ mentality that I wanted on our team. She attacks the basket hard, and has a ‘refuse to lose’ mentality,” said Boston College coach Sylvia Crawley.
“She can post up smaller guards, and she can also defend players in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) who play inside out.”
In 2011, Cooper was even better on the court. Although the Ravens did not repeat as state champions, Cooper led the team with a steady 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one block per game.
“As a basketball player, Kat has reached a level that few players are fortunate enough to reach,” said Ravens coach Terry Johnson. “Although I know that Kat is proud of her many individual accomplishments … she is most proud of the fact she helped lead Riverside to three league titles, three district titles and two state championships in four years.
“As her game grew, so did Kat’s leadership, example and character. She embodies so much of what we hope our Riverside players strive to be.”
Cooper will savor her moments on the court with the Ravens.
“Winning two state titles was a huge deal and playing varsity since I was a freshman,” Cooper said. “All the players have become my best friends. My teachers and everyone here have had so much impact on me. Everybody has helped me in some way.
“Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been saying that I’m going to college and moving on,” Cooper added. “But now it’s all hitting me really hard that I’m leaving. After four years, I’m not going to be coming back, and all my teammates aren’t going to be with me. But it’s time. I’m ready for more responsibility, and I’ll just have to mature more.”
For Cooper, it’s going to be even harder to leave the comfort of her close-knit family.
“My dad has wanted me to be home every day this year,” she said. “My whole family is really close, and I know my dad is going to be sad to see me go. They’re proud of me, though. We’ll probably Skype (voice and video calls and chats over the Internet) every day, and my dad is already trying to get all the ACC channels ordered.”
Cooper plans on staying connected with the Ravens’ program.
“I still want to come back, go see some games and support Auburn Riverside in the future,” Cooper added.
