BIRMINGHAM, Ala — Auburn guard Sharife Cooper has been selected as the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Monday. He is the second Tiger to garner recognition from the conference this season, joining teammate Justin Powell.
Cooper had a debut to remember as he scored 26 points and added nine assists, four rebounds and three steals vs. Alabama.
Cooper's 26 points tied Powell and Eddie Johnson for the most points in a home debut by a freshman in Auburn history.
His totals in points, assists and steals matched season-high totals by any Auburn player this season.
The Powder Springs, Ga. native became one of just two freshmen in the country, along with Powell, and one of just eight players overall to score 26 points and have nine assists in a game this season.
Cooper scored or assisted on 16 of Auburn's 29 made field goals in the game, good for 55 percent.
The freshman scored 20 of the Tigers' 54 points in the second half, becoming the first Auburn player to score at least 20 points in a half since J'Von McCormick at Mississippi State (Jan. 4, 2020).
Cooper and the Tigers next head to Georgia for a league game against the Bulldogs Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. CT.
