MIAMI, July 5– The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Daequan Cook, the 21st pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Cook (6-5, 210-pounds) played one season at The Ohio State University before becoming an early entry candidate for the 2007 NBA Draft. He was voted as the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range in 39 games (one start). He was named Honorable Mention All Big Ten by the media after setting the OSU freshman record for made three-point field goals during a single-season with 54. Cook ranks second all-time in three-point shooting percentage among Ohio State freshman and finished the season third on the team in rebounds and fourth in scoring.
The HEAT acquired the rights to Cook from Philadelphia on June 28 in a draft night deal. In addition to Cook, the HEAT received a 2009 second-round draft pick and cash considerations for the draft rights to Jason Smith, who Miami selected with the 20th overall pick.
Cook will join the Miami HEAT summer league team which begins practicing today and will participate in the Pepsi Pro Summer League in Orlando, FL from July 9-13. He will make his professional debut against the Charlotte Bobcats summer league team on July 9 in the league’s second game (approximately 5:00 p.m.).
