When Warren County plays, Lacedrick ‘Red’ Cox may be the last starter people notice. His game is quiet – just like him - even when his influence is loud. His laid-back demeanor only helps keep him in the background.
Rarely does anything get a rise out of Red, but District 6AAA coaches finally found out how to draw the senior’s ire. Diss Cox at your own risk. He’ll come back looking for revenge.
“Not getting all-district did give me a little extra motivation,” said Cox after scoring 11 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out three assists in Tuesday’s championship game. “The big motivation, though, was for me to get my team to where we’re at now. I want to be a senior leader.”
People have spent years underestimating Cox. In middle school, he was misunderstood – known as a troublemaker more than a baller. By the time he entered high school, people wondered what would become of the smooth athlete.
Then freshman coach Stephen Glenn knew from the start where Red would be.
“People were asking if he’d even make the team. He was starting after a couple of games. He always knew where to be,” recalled Glenn. “I go way back with Red. I always saw something in him. He just needed help finding his way.”
One place he never needed help locating was a gym.
Despite not being one to do social media or text – “he’s old school,” said assistant coach Camron Bond – Cox would show up anytime the ball was in the air. He just had a knack for finding the court.
“We’ve always said that Red must just put his ear to the ground and hear basketballs bouncing,” said assistant coach Adam Wood. “He’s been a pleasure. We had to understand how to coach him and he had to understand how to be coached. We met somewhere in the middle.”
Now a senior, Cox plays a huge part of the Pioneers in his own way. He doesn’t light up the scoreboard, but he makes winning plays.
“He does the little things,” said fellow senior Trevor Evans. “There’s countless possessions he keeps alive with rebounds or tip-outs. He does it all.”
His low-key approach and high-impact game has made him a coach’s dream.
“Red has been very coachable young man from Day 1. He is even keel and doesn’t let the situation become too much for him,” said coach Chris Sullens. “He has just done what we have asked. He also puts in a ton of his own time developing skills and improving. It’s paid off for him.”
The kid who grew up playing with cousins and uncles during the day, then watching LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at night is living his hoop dreams now. He has the hardware to prove it too.
Following the championship game, Cox was named to the all-tournament team. He finally had the trophy – and recognition - he knew he deserved.
