Once the consensus number one high school basketball player in the country, Lenny Cooke was the undeniable star ahead of future NBA greats like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. In this interview, Cooke reflects on the dizzying height of his early fame, the lessons learned through failure, and the advice he now offers to young prospects navigating the modern basketball landscape.
Standing at the Apex of the 2001 ABCD Camp
Lenny Cooke vividly recalls the electric atmosphere of the 2001 ABCD Camp, where he went toe-to-toe with generational talents like Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and Amar’e Stoudemire.
“It was a GREAT experience man… becoming the number one #1 player in the country for over two years, was just a different vibe.”
He noted the stark difference between his era and today’s high school game. Without social media, the only platforms for hype were The New York Times, SLAM Magazine, and local publications. “If you didn’t bust ass you weren’t making it into those platforms,” he explained. Cooke believes that if the digital world existed then, his exposure would have been “WORLDWIDE,” potentially leading to a long NBA career. “I would probably be 18 years in the NBA because my hype of just me and my exposure on the basketball court would’ve been shown WORLDWIDE.”
Cooke also shared an unexpected friendship from the camp days with Joakim Noah, who was then his “little brother” on the Long Island AAU Panthers. Noah, who was often “counting him out when he was young,” became a best friend through sheer work ethic. Cooke praised Noah for doing “all of the little things that people didn’t pay attention to that wasn’t in the stat book.”
The Cost of “Too Much, Too Fast”
Cooke was brutally honest about the early pitfalls of his fame, conceding he received too much success “too fast and too early.” He found himself surrounded by “yes men” and the trappings of celebrity that proved detrimental.
He revealed the confluence of factors that led him to declare for the NBA draft that year instead of going to St. John’s: the firing of Coach Mike Jarvis, the departure of key mentor Omar Cook, and the sudden news of his impending fatherhood.
“I was also having my son and financially I wasn’t ready for that. And so, when the agent came to me with the money, it was just a win-win situation I thought at the time because I was able to provide for my family and take care of my son.”
His time playing professionally overseas initially didn’t force him to mature, especially during his first stint in Manila, Philippines, where the “limelight was STILL the same” and he was still “trying to party after the games.” The wake-up call finally came in China. “They take it way MORE seriously over here,” he recalled. “All of the partying and the girls and all of that, they’re not trying to have it over there. They’ll send your ass home, you know what I’m sayin’?”
A Lesson from the Mamba
Cooke recounted a memorable and revealing exchange with the late Kobe Bryant at the ABCD Camp, a moment he now understands as a profound life lesson. When he asked Bryant when they would play, Kobe’s response was immediate:
“His exact words were… ‘Lenny, I’ll play you in various ways. I’ll BEAT you in various ways!‘”
Cooke, whose ego was “so big” at the time, wasn’t initially insulted. However, looking back, he realized the deeper meaning. Kobe was signaling his mental superiority, which extended beyond the basketball court and into life itself: “Mentally he would’ve taken advantage of me… it shows that I wasn’t mentally prepared to even step on the court with him.”
The Next Generation: Advice and Comparisons
Now a mentor, Cooke shares his story as a cautionary tale, urging parents and young players to secure their future.
“Use me as an example of what NOT to do. You have all the talent in the world. Basketball has a start date and an expiration date. You just don’t know when it is. So if this is something that you love, you have to make sure your image is right at ALL times and when you’re not working someone is.”
Cooke believes LeBron James is the GOAT and that his son, Bronny James, has every resource to succeed. He contrasted Bronny’s easier road with that of prospects like Dajuan Wagner Jr., whose father also played in the NBA. Cooke believes Wagner Jr.’s talent will shine through despite having to fight harder for exposure.Regarding Wagner Jr.’s game, Cooke was effusive in his praise: “Man…. that kid is SPECIAL. His IQ for the game is very VERY high. He controls the tempo of the basketball game. He reminds me of an early Penny [Hardaway] before the injuries and all of that.”
