In his senior year Leonard Cooper poured in 522 points, a single season basketball scoring record that still stands today. He was elected Most Valuable Player on the 1975-76 team by his teammates. But, even more noteworthy is that along with his high scoring he was also chosen as the best defensive player on the team, an eloquent testimony to Leonard Cooper's all-around ability in basketball.
He was a member of four high flying Kohawk basketball teams under coaches Marcus Jackson and Don Tune. During Leonard Cooper's four years on the team, the team played each year either in the national or regional NCAA Division III championships. He never played in a losing game at home as a Kohawk.
In Leonard Cooper's freshman year Coe was the NCAA Midwest regional champion and advanced to the national tournament. In his sophomore year Coe was invited as an at-large entry to the national tournament.
Leonard was co-captain of his junior and senior teams, both of which played in the NCAA regional tournament.
Both the 1972-73 and 1975-76 teams were undefeated in regular season play. Twice Leonard was named to the All-Midwest Conference team and as a senior he made Honorable Mention All-American. In tournament play he was named to an all-NCAA tournament team as well as a District V coaches select team. A graduate of Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Leonard averaged 20.6 points and 10 rebounds a game his senior year. He stands 11th in career basketball scoring for Coe and 10th in career re-bounding.
Because Leonard Cooper was an integral part of a basketball team that had two undefeated regular seasons and which never lost a game at home, he has clearly earned a respected place in the Kohawk Athletic Hall of Fame.
