Houston athlete turning it around

There haven't been too many bright points in Houston Booker T. Washington's 1-5 season so far but one of them has to be the play of two-star cornerback/athlete James Cooper. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Cooper has picked off four interceptions this season and he's now playing quarterback, trying to help his team become more explosive on offense.

"He threw for a 79-yard and a 30-yard touchdown last week," Cooper's father, Mike Cooper, said. "He's been playing really well, and hopefully things will turn around this week and we'll get a district victory."

That win would be on the road against Wheatley.

The road to college is starting to clear up a little more, too, for Cooper. After looking at one point like he would be an academic casualty, Cooper has moved closer and closer to being qualified.

"He went to summer school and took some of the core classes and that's really helped him," his father said. "He wants to get up to a 3.0, and that'd make it easier for him to get in wherever he wants."

Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iowa and Michigan State are the main schools recruiting Cooper at this point. His father does have a favorite, though.

"I'm pulling for Oklahoma State," Cooper said. "I really like coach (Joe DeForest). He's a neat guy."