WKU Point Guard Kenny Cooper Speaks On NCAA Decision

BOWLING GREEN, Ky – On Thursday, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Senior point guard Kenny Cooper spoke for the first time since the NCAA denied his appeal for immediate eligibility on December 10th.

WKU and Cooper sought eligibility for this season on the grounds that his head coach at Lipscomb, Casey Alexander, left over the summer to take the same position at Belmont University in Nashville.

In his three years at Lipscomb, Cooper played 100 games, with 67 starts, and helped lead the Bisons to three consecutive 20-win seasons. Cooper was an integral part of last year’s team that went 29-8 and made it to the NIT Championship game.

When asked about Cooper’s ineligibility on Monday, WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said, “Lipscomb didn’t support (Cooper’s) waiver… Kenny wouldn’t have left if (Alexander) hadn’t left. That’s (Lipscomb’s) decision. Their administration isn’t going to support him leaving.”

Cooper echoed his coach’s sentiments on the floor of E.A. Diddle Arena yesterday.

“The only thing you need is your school to support it… When it comes to supporting or not supporting, you either do or you don’t. (Lipscomb) chose not to.”

Cooper will have to sit out the 2019-2020 season, but will be able to play as a redshirt senior next year.