Duke’s Quinn Cook, Nolan Smith share special bond - ALL-MET ELITE

Duke’s

 Quinn Cook, Nolan Smith

share special bond 

 ALL-MET ELITE

QUINN COOK
OAK HILL ACADEMY
MOUTH OF WILSON VA.

 

NOLAN SMITH
OAK HILL ACADEMY
MOUTH OF WILSON VA.

 

Cook has known Smith for more than a decade. Growing up together in Prince George’s County, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C., the 10-year-old Smith was a local hoops legend known as Showtime Smith. Eventually Smith and Cook joined the same AAU program, Smith playing for the Maryland Crusaders and Cook for the Mitchellville Trailblazers. Cook, five years younger, liked to study Smith’s game.

In the summer of 2000, their AAU teams traveled to Memphis for a tournament and Smith watched Cook struggle through a loss. After the game, Smith sought out Cook, wrapped his arm around the 7-year-old’s shoulders and said, “You’re my little brother now. I’m always going to be watching over you and you’re going to be all right.”
Nolan Smith became more than a big brother. He became Cook’s idol. Quinn Cook wanted to be just like him.

Cook eventually attended DeMatha High School and became the first junior in three decades to earn D.C. Player of the Year. Recruiters were stalking him and he didn’t have his father to shepherd him. Once again Cook needed to escape and Smith had an idea. Smith suggested that Cook follow in his footsteps to Oak Hill Academy in remote Mouth of Wilson, Va., to help hone his game for college. Smith made a phone call to Oak Hill coach Steve Smith and Cook was invited.

Then when it came time to settle on a college, Cook followed in Smith’s footsteps once again. Cook had visited Smith at Duke several times and relished the environment. Smith became Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s primary salesman.