Mookie Cook chooses Oregon over Kentucky, Gonzaga

One of the top high school juniors in the country is staying close to home.

Marquis “Mookie” Cook, a five-star class of 2023 small forward out of Jefferson, OR announced his commitment to the Oregon Ducks on Thursday evening. The 6-foot-7 wing, who plays for AZ Compass Prep, made his decision live on ESPNU during halftime of the last quarterfinal game at the GEICO Nationals. Cook was down to three schools, choosing Oregon over Kentucky and Gonzaga.

“Their pitch has honestly been… you’re born and raised here…you’d have your family here and your whole support system,” Cook recently told On3‘s Joe Tipton. “And also come in and have a big role there and be able to play your game to the fullest and have great pieces around you.”

Cook, the No. 5 prospect in 2023 according to the On3 Consensus, is the second-highest recruit of the modern era to pick Oregon, trailing only former Duck Bol Bol.

2023 five-star Mookie Cook has committed to Oregon, he tells @On3Recruits.

He is the second highest-ranked recruit to choose the Ducks in the modern recruiting era, only behind Bol Bol.

Story: https://t.co/tOVwdrNIDS pic.twitter.com/6Oc3CD0a09

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 31, 2022

Cook took official visits to all three of his top choices before making his decision. He came to Lexington back in October where he received an offer from the Wildcats shortly after. Cook then visited Oregon and Gonzaga during back-to-back weekends in February, ultimately going with the home-state program.

Although the word from Cook is that he will remain in the class of 2023, sources tell KSR that a possible reclassification to 2022 is still on the table.