Ta'Lon Cooper talks injury scare, embracing last moments of college career
Time is ticking on Ta’Lon Cooper’s college career, and he’s well aware of it. With the postseason in full swing, he’s been sure to soak in every second of what’s left for him at this level.
“I mean, I think about it a lot,” Cooper said. “You don’t get a college experience like this but once in your life. So I just try to seize every moment and just go with it.”
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In just one season at South Carolina, the fifth-year guard has been a game-changer. He’s been a big part of the reason why the Gamecocks have been as good as they have all year.
Up to this point, Cooper has been a regular starter for the Gamecocks. He’s played in all 32 games this year. But in Friday’s loss to Auburn in the SEC Tournament, he ran into an unfamiliar situation.
Midway through the second half, Cooper drove to the basket and hit the floor hard. He slid underneath the basket and started to grab his leg.
“I tried to go through some contact and ended up landing on somebody’s foot and twisting it,” Cooper said, describing what had happened on the play.
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As it turned out, Cooper had injured his ankle. In the moment, he was able to get back up a few seconds after going down. But he eventually went to the bench and immediately met with the team trainer.
“I was trying to see if I could go back in and just test it out, see how it moved,” Cooper said.
Cooper would go back in the game for a few minutes after talking with the trainer. But when he was out on the court, he couldn’t do much or be productive as he would’ve liked.
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“When I went back in there, I just couldn’t plant my foot. It was more of just cutting,” he said.
While he wanted to be out there for the last minutes of his first time at the SEC Tournament, he knew it wasn’t worth it. Cooper finished with eight points on 2-of-5 shooting in 22 minutes.
“I tried to enjoy it as much as I can,” Cooper said. “Like I said, there’s only one time you get to do this. So try to enjoy it. First and last time playing in the SEC Tournament, so I’m nothing but grateful for it.”
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Instead, there will be bigger games on the horizon that South Carolina will need him for. The Gamecocks are set to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. And they’ll learn when, where and who they’re playing on Sunday night.
And just like he has this entire season, Cooper will be sure to enjoy what could be the final moments of his five-year journey.
“Oh, I’m really excited,” Cooper said about playing in March Madness. “I mean, it’s my last time ever playing in something like this. So it’ll be really exciting to be out there.”
