Devontae Cacok

Devontae Calvin Cacok (/ˈkeɪˌkɒk/ KAY-kok;[1] born October 8, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, where in the 2017–18 season he led the nation in rebounding.

Devontae Cacok
Cacok with UNC Wilmington in 2019
No. 15 – Virtus Bologna
PositionCenter
LeagueLBA
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1996-10-08) October 8, 1996
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolAlpharetta (Alpharetta, Georgia)
CollegeUNC Wilmington (2015–2019)
NBA draft2019: undrafted
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2021Los Angeles Lakers
2019–2020→ South Bay Lakers
2021–2022San Antonio Spurs
2021–2022→ Austin Spurs
2022–2023Motor City Cruise
2023CSKA Moscow
2023–presentVirtus Bologna
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life

Cacok was born in Chicago, Illinois to a Haitian-American father Harry Cacok and Rose Lewis,[2] and grew up in Riverdale, Georgia, playing football as a youth, mainly on the offensive line. He first began playing basketball in eight grade after he fractured his wrist, ending his football season. Cacok admits being terrible at first, but joined his high school varsity team after a seven-inch growth spurt as a sophomore. As a senior at Alpharetta High School, he averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game and led the team to a regional title.[3]

College career

As a freshman at UNC Wilmington, Cacok came off the bench to average 3.3 points per game.[3] Cacok averaged 12.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore and led the nation in field goal percentage (80.0%).[4] He accomplished this extremely high percentage, the highest ever, by mainly shooting within a range of about two feet from the basket and only taking one jump shot all year on the 29–6 Seahawks team.[3] He had 40 blocks and tied for the league lead with 11 double-doubles. He was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the Third Team All-CAA.[4]

After the season, UNC Wilmington lost four starters and coach Kevin Keatts; new coach C. B. McGrath looked to expand his overall game.[3] In an 87–63 win against Elon in February 2018, Cacok posted 17 points and 21 rebounds. The following matchup, an 88–64 loss to College of Charleston, he had 29 points and 17 rebounds. These two performances earned him CBS Sports Player of the Week honors.[5] As a junior, Cacok led Division I in rebounding with 13.5 per game.[6] He finished eighth in the CAA in scoring with 17.8 points per game and third in field goal percentage with 58.8%. Cacok led the conference with 22 double-doubles, second-most of any player in the country. He was named to the First Team All-CAA.[7] The North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association named Cacok to the First Team All-State.[8]

Coming into his senior season, Cacok was named to the Preseason First Team All-CAA.[9] As a senior, Cacok averaged 15.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game and led the nation in double-doubles with 22.[10] He was again selected to the First Team All-CAA.[11]

Professional career

Los Angeles Lakers (2019–2021)

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Cacok signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers to play in the 2019 NBA Summer League.[12][13] On October 21, 2019, Cacok was waived by the Lakers.[14] He was then added to the roster of the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League.[15]

On December 11, 2019, Cacok signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would split time between South Bay and LA.[16] On December 28, 2019, Cacok grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds to go along with 22 points in a 124–120 win over the Northern Arizona Suns.[17] He suffered a stress reaction in his foot on January 13, sidelining him for several weeks.[18] Cacok returned to action on February 1, contributing 13 points and seven rebounds in a win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.[19] At the close of the season, Cacok was named to the All-NBA G League First Team after averaging 19.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He was also named to the League's All-Rookie Team.[20] On August 13, he made his NBA debut for the Lakers, scoring six points on 3-of-6 shooting and grabbing five rebounds in a 136–122 loss to the Sacramento Kings.[21]

On September 20, 2021, Cacok signed with the Brooklyn Nets.[22] He was waived at the end of training camp on October 16.[23]

San Antonio Spurs (2021–2022)

On October 18, the San Antonio Spurs claimed Cacok off waivers and converted his deal into a two-way contract with the Austin Spurs.[24] On March 4, 2022, the San Antonio Spurs converted Cacok's contract into a standard deal.[25]

Motor City Cruise (2022–2023)

On September 7, 2022, the Portland Trail Blazers announced that they had signed Cacok.[26] He was waived on October 7.[27]

On November 3, 2022, Cacok was named to the opening night roster for the Motor City Cruise.[28]

CSKA Moscow (2023)

On February 11, 2023, Cacok signed with CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League.[29]

Virtus Bologna (2023–present)

On July 10, 2023, Cacok signed a two-year deal with Virtus Segafredo Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague.[30][31] On 24 September 2023, after having ousted Olimpia Milano in the semifinals, Virtus won its fourth Supercup, and the third in a row, defeating 97–60 Germani Brescia.[32]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20† L.A. Lakers 109.0.500——5.01.0.0.06.0
2020–21 L.A. Lakers 2014.0.586—.4551.6.1.3.22.0
2021–22 San Antonio 1508.1.677—.5712.8.4.5.53.1
Career 3616.3.621—.5002.2.2.4.32.5

References
  1. Akers, John. "Center Court: On Our Radar," Basketball Times, October 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  2. "Devontae Cacok – Men's Basketball". uncwsports.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  3. Fuchs, Jeremy (October 26, 2017). "He Made More of His Shots Last Year Than Anyone. Now Devontae Cacok Wants You to Know His Name". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  4. "Williams headlines All-CAA men's basketball team" (Press release). Colonial Athletic Association. March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  5. Norlander, Matt (February 21, 2018). "Player of the Week: UNCW's Devontate Cacok almost sees a 20–20 average". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  6. "Rebounds Per Game". NCAA. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  7. Washburn, Rob (March 2, 2018). "WRIGHT-FOREMAN TOPS ALL-CAA MEN'S BASEKTBALL [sic] TEAM". caasports.com. Colonial Athletic Association. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  8. Smist, John (April 10, 2018). "Devontae Cacok and Jordon Talley take home NCCSIA honors". Fox 19. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  9. "NORTHEASTERN FAVORED TO WIN CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP". CAA Sports. October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  10. Smist, John (April 26, 2019). "UNCW's Devontae Cacok makes NCAA history". WECT. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  11. "CofC's Brantley and Riller Earn A Spot On The All-CAA First Team". Live 5 News. March 8, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  12. Quinn, Sam (June 21, 2019). "Lakers reportedly sign several rookies for Summer League". 247Sports.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  13. "Lakers Sign Devontae Cacok and Aric Holman". NBA.com. July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  14. "Lakers Waive Cacok and Jackson". NBA.com. October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  15. "South Bay Lakers Set Opening Night Roster". NBA.com. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  16. "Lakers Sign Devontae Cacok to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  17. "South Bay Lakers 124 – Northern Arizona Suns 120". G-League Stats. December 28, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  18. "Lakers' Devontae Cacok: Nursing stress reaction in foot". CBS Sports. January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  19. "Lakers' Devontae Cacok: Back in action in G League". CBS Sports. February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  20. "Devontae Cacok Named to All-NBA G League First Team". NBA.com. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  21. Smist, John (August 13, 2020). "Devontae Cacok makes NBA debut". WECT. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  22. "Brooklyn Nets Sign Devontae Cacok". NBA.com. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  23. "Brooklyn Nets Waive Devontae Cacok". NBA.com. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  24. "Spurs claim Devontae Cacok off waivers". NBA.com. October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  25. "NBA Transactions". nba.com. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  26. "Trail Blazers Sign Devontae Cacok, Isaiah Miller, Jared Rhoden And Olivier Sarr To Contracts". NBA.com. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  27. porfgomez (October 7, 2022). "Trail Blazers waive Devontae Cacok, Wes Iwundu and Brandon Williams". NBA.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  28. "Motor City Cruise Roster 2022-23". gleague.nba.com. November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  29. "Devontae Cacok joins CSKA Moscow". Sportando. February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  30. "Devontae Cacok is a new player of Virtus Segafredo Bologna". July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  31. "Devontae Cacok heads to the EuroLeague with Virtus". EuroLeague. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  32. Una Virtus esagerata stravince la Supercoppa. la Repubblica
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