Izard County Consolidated’s Justus Cooper has had his fair share of setbacks in his short life.
But having two hip surgeries and an appendectomy and being diagnosed with Type I diabetes haven’t slowed him down one bit.
Cooper, who averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks and 2 assists per game as a sophomore, is the Three Rivers Edition Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Cooper’s Cougars finished 37-4 and as the Class 1A state runner-up.
“He has a great story,” Izard County coach Kyle McCandlis said. “As an eighth-grader, he missed the whole season due to having double hip surgery. He came back and had a tremendous season as a freshman, who moved up and played senior high ball all season. Then late last summer, he was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic. He’s a tough kid, very fun to coach.”
Cooper said he had what he referred to as a “pistol-grip deformity,” which is femoral acetabular impingement. He said that it is hereditary. The hip ball socket isn’t round. It’s egg shaped.
“It was rubbing out the cartilage,” he said. “My dad was only 39, and he had to have a hip replacement. I was told I had it in both hips. That was a hard time.”
Prior to this season, Cooper said, he had an appendectomy, and it was discovered that he is diabetic.
“A week later, I was playing ball,” he said.
Learning to balance athletics and diabetes was tough at first for Cooper.
“You had to monitor it every time you could think,” he said. “You had to monitor the sugar. Once you get used it, once you figure out how your body is going to react to everything, it goes so much better. It ends up like brushing your teeth every day. It’s not that bad once you get into it.”
Cooper said he’s been playing basketball since he was in kindergarten and started playing organized Amateur Athletic Union basketball in elementary school. He credits his heart for the way he plays.
“To me, I feel like I have a bigger heart than everybody,” he said. “I’m obviously not the most athletic. I can’t jump the highest. I can’t shoot the best. Whenever it comes down to who wants it more, that’s who I try to be — that person who’s going to get the ball and do whatever it takes.
“I always loved having challenges and going up against challenges. I feel like that makes me stronger. When I get into those situations where I have to do something, I’m ready to do it and just go do it.”
Cooper had a strong year and played well in the Class 1A
state-championship game March 10 at Bank of the Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs. The Cougars lost to Guy-Perkins 71-66 after leading 26-18 after one quarter, 37-36 at halftime and 54-52 heading into the final eight minutes.
Cooper scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 3 assists while playing all 32 minutes.
“Personally, this season meant a lot,” he said. “When I first came to Izard County, the group that were seniors, that was my first team I ever had here. They are a great group of guys. To be able to play this last season, their senior year, it meant so much to me.”
Cooper was referring to seniors Andy Norton, Ethan Mohlke, Preston Grant and Rory Bell.
“I wanted to do everything I could to get them that ring,” he said. “It was very emotional throughout the whole thing. There wasn’t a part where I didn’t care. I wanted to go for those guys. Those guys were huge role models for me. I just wanted to do everything I could. I think everybody in my class who had been with them wanted to do that. I think that is why it was so emotional and personal to me.”
McCandlis said Cooper, who is 6-5 and 190 pounds, can play inside or outside.
“I’m very fortunate to have a player like that,” he said. “It’s like I told someone: There may never be another one like him. He’s special. He can go inside or outside. Throughout the year, he was stepping out and hitting the 3 or posting you up. During the state tournament, he could just overpower everybody 15 feet and in.”
Cooper said he’d like another run at a state championship next year.
“We know what it takes to get there,” he said. “We’ve just got to get in the weight room, get more shots up. We’ve just got to get bigger, faster and stronger.”
Staff writer Mark Buffalo can be reached at (501) 399-3676 or mbuffalo@arkansasonline.com.