Zach Braziller

Zach Braziller

Sports

6’11 teen left Jamaica for NY — and now has huge hoops potential

Kofi Cockburn heard stories about life in the United States. The opportunity that existed and what it could mean for his future. Eight months ago, the Kingston, Jamaica, native decided he had to experience it for himself, leaving his previous life behind.

Less than a year into that new life, the decision is working out well for the 6-foot-11, 245-pound center.

He played on the freshman team at Christ the King in Queens, helping the Royals reach the championship while averaging a double-double, according to varsity coach Joe Arbitello. He’s playing on the AAU circuit with the Rens, one of the city’s premier programs, and is a starter on the 16-and-under team at the age of 15. He recently was invited to the Nike Elite 100 Camp, a showcase in St. Louis that draws the nation’s top prospects beginning on June 11. St. Louis and VCU have offered him college scholarships.

“I’m starting to achieve things I want to achieve in my life,” Cockburn said in a phone interview.

Living in Brooklyn, the transition off the court has been trying at times, but he has a strong support system intact. His mother, Dorothy Wray, moved to New York five years ago, so she prepared him for the culture shock. He spoke English back home, so there wasn’t a language barrier. Basketball advisers Kareem Memminger and Stephen Johnston — who runs Jamaica Basketball Development, which provides scholarships for talented players to attend high schools in the U.S. and introduced him to Arbitello — have guided him.

“It’s been real challenging the first couple of months,” Cockburn said.

Cockburn’s first sport growing up Kingston was soccer. He was a forward. At the age of 9, he was introduced to basketball. His brothers played the sport. As he shot up in height, Cockburn felt it was a better option.

“I realized I could be a better basketball player than I could be in soccer,” he said. “I was built for it.”

As more coaches get to see the big man play on the AAU circuit this summer, others are expected to follow. Arbitello has been most impressed by Cockburn’s hands and footwork, qualities that usually take big men longer to master. AAU coach Chris Alesi said Cockburn reminds him of Chris Taft, his former teammate at Xaverian who starred at Pittsburgh.

“He is probably the best big kid prospect to come from New York City since Taft,” Alesi said. “He has a lot of similar qualities Taft had as a freshman, in terms of their footwork and motors and their IQ. That’s what separated Taft, and made him such a great player.”

Arbitello said: “Now it’s all about understanding the game.”

At the age of 15, he is, of course, far from a finished product. He only has been playing basketball seriously for two years. There are times Cockburn struggles with the speed of the game, and the athleticism of those around him. In Jamaica, he was dominant, always the biggest and most skilled player. But then there are times when he shows flashes of his immense potential. Most importantly, he is steadily progressing.

“By this time next year, I think he’s a top 25 player in the country [in his class],” Alesi said.

He has come a long way in a short time, much further Cockburn said, than if he had stayed home. He gets pushed and challenged daily, seeing things on the court he couldn’t have imagined back in Kingston.

“I’m getting a lot better than I was in Jamaica,” Cockburn said. “The coaching here is a lot more intense. The players are better. I have a lot more competition.”

After all, that’s why he made the life-altering decision to move to New York City in the first place.


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