Bob Cook (’72)
Bob Cook was Glen Rock High School’s most honored basketball player.
Bob Cook was the leading scorer and rebounder on the 1970-71 Basketball Team that won the B-PSL Championship and reached the Sectional quarterfinals. Their final record was 17-5. Bob was named to the First Team, All-Bergen (by The Paterson News), the First Team, All-B-PSL and the First Team, All Suburban (by The Ridgewood News).
In the following year, the 1971-72 Basketball Team repeated as B-PSL Champions (with a 13-1 record) and then defeated Rutherford to win the Group 2, Sectional Championship. It was Glen Rock’s first (and still only) Sectional Championship in basketball. Unfortunately, in the subsequent Group 2, North Jersey Championship game, they suffered a heartbreaking 62-61 loss to the ultimate Group 2, State Champion, Vailsburg (Newark). The team ended its season with a record of 19-6 and were ranked third in Bergen County behind two Group 4 schools, Hackensack and Ridgewood, by The Bergen Record.
Once again, Bob was the team’s leading scorer (averaging nearly 20 points per game) and leading rebounder. After the season, he was named to the First Team, All-Area (by The Paterson News), First Team, All-County (by The Bergen Record), First Team, All-B-PSL and First Team, All Suburban. He also notably received All-State and All-American honors.
Bob also displayed his athleticism as a member of Glen Rock’s track & field team. In his junior year, he led the team in scoring, while competing in the high jump, shot put, and hurdles relay. At that year’s Group 2, Sectional Championship, Bob finished fourth in the high jump. Due to post season basketball requirements, he was unable to compete as a senior.
In June 1972, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School recognized Bob as the top athlete in that year’s graduating class and gave him the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award.
During high school, Bob was heavily recruited by countless Division 1 college basketball coaches; he ultimately attended Duke University. After two years at Duke, he transferred to Delaware University (and rejoined his Glen Rock teammate Hall of Fame Inductee Steve Fischer); as a junior and senior, Bob was that team’s leading scorer and rebounder.