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Father of Former 5-Star Under Fire for Actions During Ace Bailey’s Pre-Draft Process
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- Father of Former 5-Star Under Fire for Actions During Ace Bailey’s Pre-Draft Process
Father of Former 5-Star Under Fire for Actions During Ace Bailey's Pre-Draft Process originally appeared on Athlon Sports .
The 2025 NBA draft is just days away as teams across the league seek their next superstar.
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Although Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg is the biggest name in the class, many have tabbed Rutgers Scarlet Knights standout Ace Bailey as another potential franchise cornerstone. However, the energy around the All-Big Ten forward has changed dramatically over the past few days.
It was revealed earlier in the week that Bailey was expected to fall in the draft because he hasn't worked out for any teams. It was then confirmed that he had his first meeting scheduled with the Philadelphia 76ers, who have the No. 3 pick.
However, ESPN's Jason Dumas reported that Bailey was "seeking a promise" from the 76ers, and that the meeting is trending toward not happening.
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With many unsure of how he is handling the pre-draft process, fans have begun pointing the finger at his agent, Omar Cooper.
"Omar Cooper is a flat out terrible agent," wrote one fan.
"Omar cooper, sharife cooper's dad is Ace Bailey's agent. Makes the most sense ever. What a horrific agent. Ace is getting toyed by him," added a second.
"good ol' Omar Cooper lol," chimed in another.
"Omar Cooper is becoming a career killer before these kid's career even start. Sharife should have went back to Auburn for soph year like Pettiford just did and now this with Ace. Horrendous," said another.
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"Omar Cooper is a terrible agent," wrote another.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey (4).© John Jones-Imagn Images
While the name Omar Cooper may not sound familiar, Cooper is the father of former Auburn five-star recruit Sharife Cooper.
The former No. 27 overall recruit played just 12 college games as a freshman due to missing the first 12 as the NCAA investigated his eligibility. He then declared for the draft against the advice of just about everyone in the industry and fell to the second round, where he was taken with the No. 48 pick.
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Cooper played just 13 games in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, spending most of his time in the G League. He has since played for pro teams in China, Turkiye, Greece and France.
While Bailey likely has a higher ceiling than Cooper, fans are certainly worried that his representation could hurt his career.
Related: Top NBA Prospect's Draft Stock Takes Hit After Concerning Behavior Surfaces
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
