Cooper's Crew in 2022

Cooper's Crew in 2022 ... Dixon Davis, Jacob Earl, Ryan Van Lewen, Hunter Olchewsky, Bridger Magelby, Caleb Cox ... and Cooper Blackham (no #4, Mommy likes her boys to have "their" number!) Coach was Carter Davis, not much older than the boys.

Cooper played several seasons of Junior Jazz, but he really prefers just playing for fun, not anything competitive. Even rec ball would get a little stressful for him, and there was more than one season where he bowed out early.  Here's a peek (links to posts) at his previous basketball days...

• 8th Grade - 2018
• 7th Grade - 2017
• 6th Grade - 2016

• 4th Grade - 2014
• 4th Grade - 2013 (Fall Ball)
• 2012 Junior Jazz 
• 2011 Junior Jazz (First Season)

So it had been over three years since he'd played Junior Jazz with his buddies. Although he'd seen them, and even played some pickup ball here and there, Coop had transferred schools and didn't see his old crew that often. He had been asked, and said no, to playing Junior Jazz in recent years. I was pretty surprised when he said he was signing up for his senior year (does that make it Senior Jazz?)

They practiced at the Taylorsville Rec Center on Thursday nights at 5:30, which was a bit of a challenge to get to with his work (usually getting off a little after 5:00). Games were Saturdays at Hunter High School (one switched to Magna, Mom had him get a ride to that one as that drive is a bit out of her comfort zone). Mom did try to attend most of the other games, coming with camera in hand, just like the old days. Coop missed a couple of the games mid-season (skin issues/anxiety issues) and while he enjoyed practices, he would stress about the upcoming games. It was a bit of a relief when the season was over. Hopefully there will still be some pickup games in the future.

They won the game in the picture above (and video below) ...

https://youtu.be/_qJkCZg4QfA

They lost more than they won - but it's all about just having fun!

Here's two more highlight reels (February 26, 2022 & March 5, 2022). These were the two final games of the season and very similar in that the first half was rough, with the ball not going in the hoop. The boys managed to do a lot better in the second half of both games.

Cooper - 8th Grade Junior Jazz

I still remember a couple years ago when Cooper said he wanted to play Junior Jazz. While he is skilled, and obsessed with basketball and all things NBA, it had been a few years since he'd played on a team. But this great group of boys made all the difference. Friends from school, and now on the court. Minor changes over the past couple years, losing one, gaining one. I was happy that the boys were playing this year again. 

Practices were Thursday nights from 8:30-9:30. I'd drop Cooper off and then one of the brothers would pick him up (so I could head to bed!) Games were Saturday mornings. Both practices and games were all at Joel P, which is nice and close. 

I was able to attend and video all the games ...
an undefeated season for the boys!

Here's the highlights ...

• Game #1 (12/2/2017)
• Game #2 (12/09/2017)
• Game #3 (12/16/2017)
• Game #4 (01-06-2018)
• Game #5 (01-13-2018)
• Game #6 (01-20-2018)
• Game #7 (01-27-2018)

...and here's my Cooper Compilation!

Cooper's Comeback (7th Grade)

While you can't find a bigger fan (he knows all the stats, watches all the games) and he's got the skills, Cooper has struggled a bit actually playing on a team in a competitive setting. Even rec ball and Junior Jazz proved to be a bit too intense (he bailed on his season back in 4th grade, didn't play 5th, then couldn't quite finish the season in 6th). I was honestly surprised when he said he wanted to play again this year ... and he says he's ready and committed.

Coming in with a group of friends (basically the same team as 6th grade, although they haven't practiced or played together since the season ended last year), they are playing in the "team/experienced" division, so I hope it's not too hard (competitive teams SHOULD be playing in leagues other than Junior Jazz, but it's not always the case). All their games are  close  (Joel P.) 

I keep a playlist of all Cooper's games, 

and will also include a list and some highlights here.

Cooper clips from Saturday's game (1203). Complete game highlights on YouTube (I'll update the blog) ;)

A video posted by BlackhamBall (@blackhamball) on Dec 6, 2016 at 7:19am PST

It was a successful season! I had been a bit worried going in. This was the "Team Division" not the regular rec Junior Jazz. I was worried that there might be some superleague teams, good players and teams who had been working together for a while. Our boys were just a group of school buddies and hadn't played together since last year. But ... I think that was the case with all the teams (superleague teams had gone to the superleagues, as it should be). Our boys won all but one game. 7-1 for the season. Poor Ryan broke his ankle halfway through the season and was out (but still came and cheered). Cooper got a little extra playing time filling in (as Ryan was also point guard) so Cooper often managed 20 points in the final few games. Pretty impressive!

• Game 1  December 3, 2016
• Game 2  December 10, 2016
• Game 3  December 17, 2016
• Game 4  January 7, 2017
• Game 5  January 14, 2017
• Game 6  January 21, 2017
• Game 7  January 28, 2017

I only caught half of Cooper's final (8th) game. We had back-to-back games that day, with Colton playing before at Eastmont. On a previous back-to-back day (Cooper first) I'd sent Colton with teammates and hadn't even planned on attempting the trek (it was at Indian Hills, a little further away). But then Cooper's game wrapped up so quick that I quickly arranged for a teammate to give him a ride home and booked it the moment the final buzzer buzzed. While I missed a couple minutes, I really hadn't missed much. I had HOPED this day would be the same ... had arranged for Cooper to get a ride to his game with a teammate and told Colton's coach we'd be rushing right after. It didn't work out well ... I missed the entire first half. Here's the highlights from the second half ...

Catching up with Cooper... his final Junior Jazz game. I was late, coming straight from Colton's game. Here's the highlights I have (only half the game).

A post shared by BlackhamBall (@blackhamball) on Mar 12, 2017 at 11:20am PDT

The boys got together a few times to play ball on their own too.
I'm so grateful to this group of friends Cooper has!

Cooper Junior Jazz (6th Grade)

While Cooper loves playing basketball, and is an absolute fan of the NBA, he hasn't wanted to play on an organized team for a couple of years. Even just recreational ball was a little too much. I missed watching him play. He surprised me this season by saying he did want to be on a Junior Jazz team with his friends from school. I was surprised, but thrilled!

Super Cooper in action, two of his four baskets during his first Junior Jazz game! #blackhamball #juniorjazz

A video posted by BlackhamBall (@blackhamball) on Dec 11, 2015 at 3:42pm PST

Here's just a couple quick clips from his 1st game. I am taking the clips from the game and making highlight videos. You can see the playlist here (Cooper Basketball ) and I'll continue to add to it as the season progresses. It's great to see Cooper in action again!

I'm so grateful to this group of friends, these basketball buddies from school that got Cooper-Man playing again! After a tough game though, Cooper did get a little intimidated and skipped the rest of the season. Glad I got this picture (he wasn't there for the official team photo either).

Cooper Junior Jazz (4th Grade)

Last Fall, I signed Cooper up for basketball without telling him ... and he was MAD at me. After a rocky start, he really enjoyed that season, and it was a good experience. Several of the players were continuing on to Junior Jazz and asked Cooper to be on the team. So we signed up.  Cooper was nervous about the "new" team, as there were several new kids. It just wasn't gelling the same, he wasn't getting the passes, the playing time, the scoring. He didn't care for the "kid" refs that he felt didn't call everything (he worries about getting hurt). He played the first few games, then as the season hit it's holiday hiatus ... he didn't want to go back. We only hit a couple of the remaining games.

Here's Cooper's videos (all from the first part of the season, December 2013) ...

Game 1      Game 2      Game 3

Team Picture

Cooper did go to his last game ... 

he didn't really want to but I "encouraged" him to. 

I like closure, and he needed to pick up his pictures and trophy.

Thus ends this season of Junior Jazz. Cooper says he does NOT want to play on a team anymore, and I don't think I'll be pushing him. It's too bad, as he certainly has the talent. 

Cooper & Crew

A couple years ago Cooper played Junior Jazz and he did great! Last year, he didn't want to play and he took the season off. As I was looking toward the Fall season, I thought I'd sign him up for the rec league at Gene Fullmer. He'd be at the top of the division (3rd/4th) and I figured it would be a good transition back into basketball. I didn't ask Cooper before I signed him up, as I knew he would say no. I hoped after a good game experience, he'd acclimate. When I first told him (a couple hours before the first practice) he was SO upset with me. He finally calmed down and went to practice but still said he did NOT want to play. I told him I needed him to play one game, then we would make a decision. If he really wanted to drop out, I would let him.

He played the first game and enjoyed it.

• Game 1 (September 21) WIN
• Game 2 (September 28 ) WIN ... four points
• Game 3 (October 5) WIN ... six points
• Game 4 (October 12) WIN ... four points
• Game 5 (October 26) WIN ... four points
• Game 6 (November 2) WIN ... 15 points
• Game 7 (November 9) Win ... 14 points
• Game 8 (November 16) Loss (dang it! *Ü*)

Junior Jazz - Cooper's Crew

Coach: Stephanie Wimber

Dallas, Preston, Marc, Oha

Cooper, Jaxon, Tyler, Lukas, Kail

When it was time to sign up for Junior Jazz, I honestly didn't know what to do about Cooper. Last year he didn't seem interested in signing up, so I didn't ... when it got a little closer, he said he DID want to play, and luckily they were accepting late registrations. Cooper played and did great and became obsessed with basketball.

He had loved soccer too ... until the broken arm and the weather phobia Spring/Summer 2011. Fall soccer was rough, he didn't want to play, but I wanted him to try. Every game was a struggle and it was a relief when the season was over. Basketball didn't have the same issues (inside, out of the weather, he'd never been hurt while playing it) but still, he said he did NOT want to get signed up. As we've been dealing with his anxiety, I really felt getting out and playing once a week would be a good thing for him. I debated ... should I sign him up or not.

I decided to risk it and hope for the best. We signed up with friends so Cooper knew almost every kid on his team. The coach was the neighbor down the street. The games were played at his school gym. I really couldn't have asked for a better setup. As the first game approached, I tried to get Cooper excited, but every time I would bring it up he would cry and say he didn't want to play. The morning of the first game he cried for an hour ... Gray took him to the game and ... HE DID GREAT! He likes basketball and admits he's glad I signed him up. WHEW! It's been a good season!

You'll find a few videos with game highlights below ...

Game Video #1
Game Video #2
Game Video #3

Cooper's Crew

This was Cooper's first Junior Jazz season. Originally, he hadn't wanted to sign up for basketball, saying soccer was his favorite sport. After realizing he wouldn't be playing soccer in the snow, he asked to sign up for basketball. Luckily, we were able to get him on a team. Cooper did GREAT! He started the season in an arm brace, recovering from a broken arm. Looks like we have another allstar on our hands!

December 11, 2010

January 29, 2011

Cooper's Soccer

Cooper started playing soccer before kindergarten, and has continued each year ... so, starting in chronological order, here are some of his games/seasons ...

Spring 2009

Cooper was able to join up with an existing team in the West Jordan league ... they play Fall&Spring, but sometimes kids move or lose interest by the time the Spring seasons starts up again. A number of kids in the neighborhood were on the team (Megan, Ben and Riley. They were a year older in school, in kindergarten while Cooper was still in preschool, but in his class at church) , and the coach was Scott Gillette, a friend and neighbor. At this point in his life, Cooper was very shy and rarely left home. I was so happy to have this be a little social outlet which pushed him a bit out of his comfort zone. He loved practices and would even go with Scott when picked up for practice.

Fall 2009

In the Fall, Cooper wanted to try soccer again. We hadn't signed up with the West Jordan league (as those signups are SO early, in the preceeding spring ... it's hard to make a committment that far in advance). We did sign up with friends (Jaxon and Corbin) and it was good to have other parents around, as Keaton was also playing that season and they often had games at the same time. Mom would try to watch both, running inbetween the fields!

Spring 2010

We signed up with Gene Fullmer again for Spring. We got on the same team with Marc, who had been on the Fall team and was in Cooper's Kindergarten class. There were several other kids from the kindergarten class too, so that was fun.

Fall 2010

This year we had planned ahead and signed up with the West Jordan league with Cooper's good buddy Ridley. Cooper really blossomed this season, wanting to play the entire game and having a bit of a hard time when he had to take his turn sitting out. Unfortunately he missed the last game of the season as he broke his arm at school.

Spring 2011

Cooper was SO excited to start soccer up again! Brothers were playing basketball, so there were quite a few conflicts with game schedules, but Ridley's family said they could take Cooper as needed. It was a soggy, soggy spring, with lots of rain and snow and game cancelations ... but that didn't impact us that much because Cooper fell during the second game and broke his arm (again!) It was a bad break, the supervisors at the field even called an ambulance! I was glad I had been able to go to the first game and get some video to remember the season ...

Fall 2011 ... this was a tough season. Not only was Cooper afraid of breaking his arm again, but he had also developed a weather phobia over the summer. Getting him to any of the games was a struggle ... I got just a bit of video of the season.