West Hancock’s Cooper Knowles commits to Belmont University basketball

Published 7:53 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2026

WARSAW, Ill. — West Hancock senior center Cooper Knowles left his mark on the Titans’ boys basketball program, and was one of the best players in the Tri-States region the past several years.

With his time at West Hancock up, Knowles has committed to Belmont University men’s basketball, a Division I program in the Missouri Valley Conference that is led by first-year head coach Evan Bradds.

“It was crazy,” said Knowles. “I got injured last summer, so my recruitment has been a little slow from the start and I decided to focus on my senior year of basketball. I had a few college coaches talking to me during the season, but once the word was out I was still available, it was crazy.”

The West Hancock senior is undecided on his major.

It was a tough decision for Knowles, who narrowed his top two choices down to Belmont University and Illinois State.

“It was a really hard decision for me,” said Knowles. “I thought with the new head coach, I feel like I related to him a little bit more in the development established down there. A few guys are returning and some red shirt guys, I thought I could go in and make an impact at Belmont quicker. You don’t want to waste a year of college.”

Knowles’ brings a lot of skills on both ends of the floor to Belmont.

“I think he’s going to bring some intangible things they don’t have,” said Titans head coach Jeff Dahl. “When he walks on campus, I believe he’ll be their best shot blocker and he will get a chance to develop physically. That’s one of the big things he wanted to do, and he’s going to have to work hard for that and he will. I think he’s going to see some big changes when he gets to be able to change his body, and he’s going to be really good.”

Knowles is not worried about NIL money at the moment, but just working on his game and into the Bruins rotation.

“Nashville is a good city to be in, but I never really took that into my decision-making process,” said Knowles. “I figured you want to be in the best developmental process first because you can make a lot more money after you develop in the right place.”

Dahl said he has never coached a player quite like Knowles.

“Cooper changes a game in more ways than one,” said Dahl. “He doesn’t have to score to change it. His defense and ability to block shots. People shot about the same percentage in the paint as they do from three against us, so that just tells you because most people shoot 20 or 30% higher in two points than in three.”

During his senior season, Knowles averaged 19.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game, earning first team Class 2A All-State honors.

For his career, Knowles’ surpassed 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 400 blocks, with the latter being a school record.

“It was great playing here,” said Knowles. “I love the community backing me up and just having the right teammates around me to get me to where I was. Couldn’t do without them.”

This past year’s postseason run was Knowles’ favorite moment, with the Titans capturing the regional championship.

“I’d say winning the regional championship this year sticks out,” said Knowles. “That was really great. We made the regional championship (game) the last three years, and to be able to finish it off my senior year and get it done was really great.”

Knowles also was the Macomb Western Holiday Tournament MVP, Hancock County Tournament MVP, QND Superfan Shootout MVP and was named to the Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team.

“Last year, we played the toughest schedule that we ever had, and we still won 27 games,” said Dahl. “He was a draw that got us into some of those tournaments and got us an opportunity to play. So that was really important in the development of our team. Then knowing if we made a mistake on defense, Cooper can fix it for us.”

West Hancock ultimately fell to eventual Class 2 state champion Peoria Manual in the sectionals.

“You don’t want to lose, but if you lose to anybody, you want it to be to the state champions,” said Knowles. “I always think if we could have won that game, so it’s kind of bittersweet.”

Not only has Knowles left his mark with the West Hancock program, he also helped work with the younger kids.

“The time that he and all of our team actually take for the little kids is really important to me, and all of the future Titans,” said Dahl. “There are people wearing Cooper Knowles t-shirts all over the place, so it’s really fun to watch that transcend down in our program.”

Knowles is excited to begin his journey in Nashville with the Bruins.

“I’ve gotten advice from a bunch of people, and they just basically say stick with it,” said Knowles. “You’re not going to have good days every day, you know. You got to trust the process and work on what you’re good at, and you’ll see the results.”