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Our STORY

Cooper International Academy is a premier college preparatory program designed to guide student-athletes through the critical transition from secondary education to higher education. Our mission is to deliver a comprehensive curriculum that balances academic achievement, athletic excellence, and personal growth, ensuring that each student is fully prepared to succeed at the next level and in life.
 

Located in Ontario, California, within the Inland Empire region just east of Los Angeles, Cooper Academy benefits from its proximity to some of the nation’s leading universities and colleges, including the University of California Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State San Bernardino, and Mt. San Antonio College. The location also provides convenient access to Los Angeles-Ontario International Airport, making our campus accessible to both domestic and international students.
 

The academy was founded by Head Coach Eric Cooper, a long-time resident of the Inland Empire with deep ties to the community. His vision for Cooper International Academy is to create a cornerstone institution that mentors student-athletes from their early school years through prep school and ultimately into the university system.

Through rigorous academics, elite-level athletics, and a supportive environment, Cooper International Academy is committed to helping student-athletes not only reach the next level but thrive when they get there.

Academy Leadership

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ERIC COOPER

FOUNDER & HEAD COACH

Eric Cooper, founder of Cooper International Academy, is a former Division I player who competed at the University of Arizona and UTSA, finishing his senior year averaging nearly 19 points per game. After college, he played more than a decade of professional basketball across Europe, Mexico, and Asia, gaining international experience at the highest level.
 

Transitioning into coaching, Cooper worked with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, led high school programs to CIF Southern Section, regional, and California State Championships, and won an AAU National Championship with a youth team backed by NBA All-Star Baron Davis. Over the years, he has developed players who advanced to Division I colleges and the NBA, building a legacy of excellence on and off the court.

EBONY COOPER

HEAD OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS

Ebony Cooper, former UCLA student-athlete, brings valuable experience in basketball operations and coaching. Having served as an assistant coach, she combines her on-court knowledge with strong organizational and communication skills.

 

At Cooper International Academy, Ebony oversees basketball operations, ensuring seamless coordination between athletes, coaches, and staff, while fostering a positive and professional environment for player development.

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ERIC COOPER Jr.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE DIRECTOR

Eric Cooper, Jr. is the son of founder Eric Cooper Sr.  Jr.  is currently the Graduate Assistant Coach at Loyola Marymount University.

 

Cooper, Jr. played college basketball for Nevada from 2014-16 and then for current LMU Assistant Coach Lorenzo Romar in his second season at Pepperdine from 2018-2019. In his four seasons at Pepperdine and Nevada, Cooper, Jr. finished with a career total of 1,193 points. In his final two seasons of college basketball he averaged 11.6 points in 28.1 minutes and shot 39.6% on three-pointers (124-for-313), ranking 10th in Pepperdine history.

 

Prior to transferring to Pepperdine, Cooper, Jr. averaged 9.3 points and 2.1 rebounds as a sophomore at Nevada and helped the Wolf Pack in three-pointers made both seasons, with 56 in 2015-16 and 38 in 2014-15. Cooper, Jr. helped Nevada win the 2016 CBI postseason tournament.

 

Prior to college, Cooper, Jr. spent one postgraduate season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he averaged 17.5 points and 3.4 assists in 2013-14. He graduated from St. Anthony High School, located in Long Beach, Calif., in 2013 after spending his first three years at Lutheran High School in La Verne, Calif. Cooper, Jr. averaged 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a senior and earned Cal-Hi Sports All-State Division IV second team honors and All-CIF Southern Section Division IV first team status, as well as being named MVP of the Santa Fe League He won state titles in 2010 and 2011 at Lutheran High.

 

Cooper Jr. played AAU ball with Belmont Shores, Branch West and California Supreme.

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MARTYNAS KRIAUCIUNAS

HEAD OF COACH

Martynas Kriaučiūnas | Basketball Coach & Consultant

Martynas Kriaučiūnas is an international basketball professional with over a decade of experience across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

  • Elite Background: Former Lithuanian professional player and U20 National Team member.

  • Expert Education: Master’s in Coaching (UK) and Bachelor’s in Coaching Systems (Lithuania).

  • Global Experience: Former coach for Shanghai Riptide (China) and LaVar Ball’s JBA (USA); former administrator for the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.

  • Current Focus: Head Coach of Academy “Orangera” and individual skills trainer for EuroLeagueathletes like Tadas Sedekerskis.

Key Strength: Specialized in high-level player development and elite international competition management.

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