DAVIS, Calif. — The UC Davis men's basketball team is excited to add sophomore transfer Nils Cooper, who will join the Aggies for the upcoming 2024-25 season, Coach Jim Les announced today. Cooper spent last season at Pepperdine University and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
 
"We couldn't be happier to be adding Nils to our program," Les said. "He is a young man of high character and intelligence that will fit in perfectly with the UC Davis community. On the court Nils is a versatile athlete that can defend at a high level. He knows how to use his size and length to make an impact on both sides of the ball, he gets out in transition and puts pressure on opponents, and he has some upside that we will tap into that I believe will make him a very valuable piece to our success. He comes from a great family and has values that align perfectly with what Aggie Basketball stands for. We are excited to start working with him."
 
Ranked as a consensus four-star recruit both as a high-schooler and as a transfer, Cooper comes to the Aggies after spending his freshman season in Malibu where he appeared in 33 games. A 6-foot-6 combo-guard, Cooper is the son of 2024 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee and former Laker great, Michael Cooper.
 
While at Pepperdine, Cooper averaged 5.0 points per game while hauling in 2.8 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 13 points against LIU. Cooper proved to be a versatile two-way player in Pepperdine's rotation, recording two or more steals on seven different occasions. This standout play on both ends of the court was recognized most when Cooper was selected as the WCC Freshman of the Week on December 11.
 
Another standout for Cooper came against Colorado, where he put up 10 points and five rebounds, while also registering a career-high three blocked shots.
 
Cooper in addition to his time at Pepperdine was a highly renowned prep prospect at Crossroads School in Santa Monica. He also attended the 2022 NBPA Top 100 Camp in Florida with many of the nation's top players, was an All-Showcase Selection at the Challenge of Champions in September 2022 and was the Tournament MVP at the Beverly Hills Tournament in December 2021.
 
Cooper also has shown off his versatile game on the international scene, recently representing the Swedish U18 Youth National Team this past summer.
 
Cooper joins a group of new additions that include Jacob Gilchrist, and former highschool teammate Isaiah Chappell.