Princeton sees potential in Trevs’ Cook

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New Trier's Steven Cook (11) slam dunks over Prosser's Derek Brownlee (3). | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 20, 2012 8:33AM

In a lot of ways, Steven Cook is lucky to play on this New Trier team as a varsity rookie.

With several veterans surrounding him, the Trevians junior guard isn’t asked to do more than his share.

Against Maine South last week, Cook scored six points, including a steal and layup in the fourth quarter that helped New Trier earn a 41-39 win and stay atop the CSL South standings.

Clearly the 6-foot-4 Cook is capable of so much more, evidenced by his verbal commitment to Princeton last week. His father John said Steven was courted by several Division I colleges before settling on the Tigers of the Ivy League.

But Cook is willing to play whatever role asked of him and wait his turn to star for New Trier.

“I was really excited for this season, having developed so much during the AAU season.” said Cook, who is in line to be the second player on the this season’s Trevians to play in the Ivy League. Senior Connor Boehm is on his way to Dartmouth.

After last week’s league win, No. 8-ranked New Trier stood 14-2 overall and 5-0 in the CSL South.

“We have so many options on this team, and that opens up things for me,” Cook said. “It allows me to contribute.”

On the lower levels, Cook was a point guard, and a four-inch growth spurt made him even more attractive as player. College coaches first took notice of him last summer playing for Full Package on the AAU circuit.

“I knew at the beginning of the season I wanted to find a college and make a decision early,” he said. “When (Princeton coach) Mitch Henderson offered me early, it was too hard to turn that opportunity down.”

The Tigers are the defending Ivy League champs and a fixture at the NCAA tournament, where they’ve played 24 times, including last season.

New Trier’s win against Maine South was more of a relief than anything else. The Trevians struggled to shoot the ball and trailed by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter.

But Boehm scored five points during a 7-0 run that tied the score at 37-all. The teams traded baskets before Maine South threw ball away on an in-bound pass. New Trier held for the last shot, and Reid Berman’s off-balance layup with 1.6 seconds left was the difference.

“I just took it by my man,” said Berman, who finished with six points. “I was either going to create for someone else or score.”

New Trier plays last-place Niles West on Friday and Taft on Saturday.