It may be cliché, but it applies.
Marshawn Cocroft is turning into the straw that stirs the drink for Aurora Christian’s young, up-and-coming basketball team.
Feel free to call the 6-foot point guard the headliner for what’s emerging as a super sophomore class for the Eagles, even if he is something of a quiet man.
“Marshawn is one of the most humble, unassuming, quiet kids you’d ever want to meet,” coach Dan Beebe said. “When he gets on the floor, he’s still quiet, but he’s a competitor.
“He’s just a great kid. He’s a program builder is what he is.”
Cocroft and his teammates weren’t really tested Friday night in a lopsided 80-13 Chicagoland Christian Conference victory at home over short-handed Marian Central Catholic.
Cameron Morel, a 6-foot-4 forward, led the way for Aurora Christian (15-3, 3-0) with 15 points and 12 rebounds. One of just two seniors on the team, Morel starts alongside four sophomores.
The lightning-quick Cocroft scored 14 points and had seven rebounds, while classmates Jacob Baumann added 11 points, Jalen Carter had eight and Asa Johnson followed with five. Freshman reserve Preston Morel added 10 points off the bench as all 10 players scored for the Eagles.
The Hurricanes (4-19, 1-5) were missing their top three players, including a pair of Division I football recruits.
“Marshawn and Jalen started last season and Jacob was the first man off the bench as freshmen,” Beebe said. “So we’ve got three kids as sophomores with a lot of playing time.”
And that was playing time on team that advanced to a sectional final before bowing out of the Class 2A playoffs.
This season, the Eagles have dropped back down to Class 1A. The private school was moved up under the Illinois High School Association’s success factor after advancing to the state finals in 2020, even though the tournament was canceled due to the pandemic.
Johnson, a 6-5 center, played on the freshman and JV levels last season.
“He doesn’t have that experience,” Cocroft said of Johnson. “But I feel like he’s fit in pretty great with us, and that’s helped us out a lot.”
Johnson said Cocroft, who averages 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists, brings out the best in his teammates.
“His work ethic is crazy,” Johnson said. “He’s obviously our key player, our key guard. I don’t know what we’d do without him.”
Cocroft also carries an impressive 4.3 assist-to-turnover ratio based on his 82 assists with just 19 turnovers.
“He keeps me on my toes,” Johnson said. “The ball comes in fast sometimes.”
Cocroft would rather not be lumped into one category.
“I just take what the defense gives me,” he said. “If they’re playing me up, I’m going to take it and score. If not, I’ll try to facilitate around ’em and get my teammates involved.
“I always tell them to be ready for me because when I drive, I’m gonna give them the ball. Sometimes they may not be ready, but that’s OK.”
Cocroft said last season’s experience was invaluable for him, Carter and Baumann.
“We played a big part in the offense,” Cocroft said. “We have a lot of experience, and that brings a lot to our team this year, giving us energy.”
Beebe said his point guard has always been strong on the offensive end.
“He’s always been a scorer, always had the ability to score,” Beebe said. “He’s always been great getting to the basket, and he has the ability to hit the open shot.
“Offensively, he’s pretty dynamic. Where he’s expended his game this year is at the defensive end and rebounding.”
The best should be yet to come.
“I think we’ll finish off strong and be ready for the postseason,” Cocroft said. “I feel like this team will be able to make it far and contend for a state championship.”
