One of the best high school players in the country, Mookie Cook is a top-notch recruit who will play for Oregon next season.
But not everyone sees a Cook like Cook when he’s out in public these days.
Some see young LeBron James. copy of it anyway.
Cook is one of two elite prospects starring in “Shooting Stars,” which appeared Friday on Peacock. The film is based on the 2009 book of the same name, co-written by James and Buzz Bissinger, focusing on James, Willie McGee, Drew Joyce III, Sean Cotton, and Romeo Travis, friends who met to play youth basketball and compete in St. Louis. Vincent Saint. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.
Fraternity that lives up to the phrase “Teamwork makes the dream work” 🙌🏀# Shooting stars Premieres June 2, only on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/4O1XZ0BCzg
Shooting Stars May 19, 2023
Cook plays James in the movie. He’s a native of Portland, Oregon, and he played at Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, and he Prospect ranked 21st in the Class of 2023According to ESPN.
He didn’t initially think his life would change much after playing James, but now he sees how things are different with each trailer for the movie.
“Definitely a little different kind of feeling behind it,” Cook said. “Kids come in like, ‘Oh, you’re the one playing LeBron! I’m used to saying ‘You’re Cookie Cook!’ because of basketball, not because of a movie.”
Cook has known James for some time. He’s friends with LeBron’s son Bruni, who will play at USC in the fall. Cook and Bruni played on the same summer basketball team in eighth grade. Cook attended a game in Portland when the Lakers were in town and caught LeBron.
Scoot Henderson, projected to be a top three pick in this month’s NBA draft, is also in the movie, as is Travis. Henderson is a guard who averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds last season for the G League Ignite.
Additionally, Michigan forward Jett Howard is played by Carmelo Anthony, who played against Team James while at Oak Hill Academy in 2002 nationally televised game. Howard, who would also be a projected first-round draft pick, is the youngest son of Michigan coach Joanne Howard. Jet announced the draft in March.
Young LeBron & Melo in the upcoming movie, Shooting Stars
LeBron: Moky Cook
Milo: Jet Howard
Drew Joyce II: Wood Harris
Drew Joyce III: Caleb McLaughlin
Elijah McGee: Algee Smith
Willie McGee: Avery Wells
Romeo: Scott Henderson
Maintenance: Khalil Ifraj
Savannah: Caitlin Nicole pic.twitter.com/M6Ig5dSVpO– Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 17, 2022
Cook and Henderson both worked with acting coaches to prepare for the roles. They studied the way James and Travis moved around the court. Cook said playing like James wasn’t too big because he’s 6-foot-7 and it feels like he’s playing as a bigger winger.
The hardest part was downplaying James’ antics.
“It definitely took some time to flesh it out,” Cook said. “How he runs straight, great posture with broad shoulders.”
Chris Robinson, the film’s director, made sure to remind Cook to stay in character.
“I had to pull him aside and say, ‘You remember who you’re playing, right?'” Robinson said. “
What helped Robinson was taking advantage of the basketball players’ backgrounds to motivate them.
“The thing about them is that they’re athletic. Scott and Mookie really understand that,” Robinson said. Cook had to be reminded of it sometimes.
“Hurry up, he’s really calm; he’s an observer. If he saw me giving directions to Mookie, he understood what he had to do to stay on that point.”
What also helped was the presence of a veteran actor Wood Harris available. Harris was Robinson’s first choice to play Drew Joyce II, coach of St. Vincent-St. Mary band.
Harris was initially unaware of Cook and Henderson’s athletic background. When he met them, he saw them as actors. Then he realized that not only were he dealing with actors who played ball, but they were also potential NBA players.
Robinson praised Harris’ ability to make a steady impact with the young cast. Harris said Robinson set the right tone for success.
Cook and Henderson, along with the rest of the cast, appreciated when Robinson only allowed them to play when he wasn’t looking for a specific take for the movie. Robinson was also careful not to overdo things, given the professional potential of Cook and Henderson.
“In the actual job they’re doing, they’re playing guys they can relate to, even with the potential to be a professional,” Harris said. “I don’t know if it is stretch A stretch, but they were able to pull it off because they’re playing real people, and real people were there for the most part.
“They did an amazing job. I’m actually really excited about this movie, really excited.”
There are parts of being a crossover star that Henderson is ready for — including fashion. The NBA already has a lot of players who like to show off their style, and the movie gives Henderson even more opportunities to be fashionable.
Henderson already had plans for a special suit for the NBA draft, which takes place on June 22. Being in “Shooting Stars” also means finding something to wear at the premiere.
The solution: rely on his sister, China Henderson-Peters, a former basketball player at Cal State Fullerton and now a stylist, CEO, and creative director at Mix of Luxe.
“She’s helped me in the last couple of years in big situations like this where I need to be in good shape,” said Henderson. “I have great style myself, but she brings a flair that everyone loves, and that’s what I want to do.”
With the film completed and with positive reviews, it doesn’t seem like Cook and Henderson are willing to give up acting entirely. Cook said he’s even open to exploring acting classes in Oregon to hone a career.
“I mean, why not?” Cook said. “You know, another door has been opened for me, and this is just another opportunity to do something.”
Henderson said he was not aiming for further acting but also would not be given a “reasonable” opportunity to perform again. Basketball is his primary focus, but Henderson is already thinking about the future.
“I want to get my foot in everything,” said Henderson. “Being a model and an actress, all of that. So, given the opportunity, I am blessed.”
(Photo: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)