Sharife Cooper

Cooper was a five-star recruit and a one-and-done Auburn playmaker whose pass-first flair never quite stuck after Atlanta drafted him in the 2021 second round. Three years of G League stops and a CBA title with China's Flying Leopards later, he finally found footing in 2025-26 on a two-way deal in Washington. It was a genuine resurgence: 8.1 points and around three assists a night on 51/38/83 splits across 41 games, with more than 70% shooting inside three feet — the paint pressure his game has always promised. The encouraging wrinkle is the jumper; a career-long swing skill looked respectable enough to keep defenses honest. He profiles as a backup-guard candidate rather than a lock, but for a player who looked out of the league, it's the most convincing NBA stretch he's had.