Knights' Cockfield maturing, taking over on and off the court <b>(VIDEO)</b>

OAKWOOD -- Johnson had trailed Apalachee from the opening tip. It looked like the Knights' 17-game win streak to open the season was about to come to an abrupt end. <br /> <br /> But with his team down 11 heading into the fourth quarter, Ty Cockfield calmly looked at his coach, Jeff Steele, and said, 'give (the guys in the huddle) something positive' as he walked to the huddle between quarters.<br /> <br /> Steele, who had ridden his charges pretty hard through a somewhat lackluster effort to that point, paused, thought about it, and then realized his senior star was right.<br /> <br /> "He knew they just needed some encouragement," Steele said. "That would not have happened before this year. He has really matured and grown into a solid leader and a great player."<br /> <br /> Cockfield's nudge for a Knute Rocke-style speech on Saturday, and a 20-point fourth quarter explosion, helped Johnson rally for an 82-76 victory to keep the streak alive. He would finish with a career-high 46 points -- the second time in three games he set a new career mark.<br /> <br /> <b>(NOTE: To watch a video highlight reel of Cockfield, simply press "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br /> <br /> It was just another typical night for Cockfield, who has taken to heart his new role as leader for the Knights, on and off the court.<br /> <br /> "I think I have grown up this year," Cockfield said. "I didn't have the experience last year to be able to notice what the team needed at a time like that. I see things differently this year.<br /> <br /> "I kind of felt after last year that someone needed to be a leader so I decided to kind of step up and do that. I like it because it pushes me to be better. I think it's gone OK so far."<br /> <br /> Way beyond OK would be more accurate. Cockfield has flourished this season, averaging 30 points and 6 assists a game, and, despite a couple of nip-and-tuck team outings of late, has led the Knights -- who are ranked No. 2 in Class AAAA in most polls -- to a 19-0 overall record and a 4-0 record in Region 8-AAAA.<br /> <br /> He has been en fuego of late scoring 42, 37, 46, and 44 points in his last four outings. While there is still plenty of season left, he surely has to be in consideration at this point for Class AAAA Player of the Year honors.<br /> <br /> Cockfield, however, said any talk of individual accolades is premature at this point.<br /> <br /> "It's nice if people are saying that but I just do whatever my team needs me to do," Cockfield said. "Our goal as a team is to win the state title. I want to get everyone involved and that's the goal every game. But if coach tells me to take over, then that's what I do.<br /> <br /> "I would rather all of us get a ring than for me to get something like that. I don't worry about (individual awards) like that."<br /> <br /> The start of his high school career did not begin the way he envisioned. Cockfield was in the South Hall Middle School program before moving to Gainesville Middle in the eighth-grade. He started early on for the Red Elephants as a freshman but a drop in his minutes late in the season for Gainesville prompted a move back to the Johnson program in the 10th grade.<br /> <br /> "I just felt like it was time to come back where I started," Cockfield said. "I didn't play as much (late in my freshman year) and I didn't know what would happen the next year. It's worked out pretty good."<br /> <br /> Steele said he was more than glad to see the 6-foot, 175-pound slasher-style scorer show back up at his doorstep.<br /> <br /> "Ty's a great kid and I knew in middle school he had a chance to be something special," Steele said. "I was extremely happy to see him come back to us. I felt like we could help him develop into a better player. But he has improved even more than I could have imagined."<br /> <br /> His numbers are up over last season because he has developed a mid-range jumper and a solid 3-point stroke to go with his shifty, slashing style that makes him a threat from anywhere on the court. He is shooting 43 percent from 3-point range this year, up significantly over the past two seasons.<br /> <br /> Cockfield also has garnered interest from Clemson, UConn, George Mason, Robert Morris, Georgia Southern, and Florida A&M. He said he will wait until after the season is over before making a decision about his future.<br /> <br /> "I'm just trying to finish out my last year in high school and help us win a state title," he said. "I'm not going to think about that until after the season. I just want to enjoy my last season here."<br /> <br /> Steele said Cockfield has put himself in the conversation as one of the best to play for him at Johnson.<br /> <br /> "He had a hitch in his stroke and we worked it out since last year," Steele said. "He's up there with Marqise (Wright, 2005-grad and all-time Johnson leading scorer). Both of them could take over a game from their position. But what I like about Ty this year is that he is getting his teammates involved."<br /> <br /> Steele admits that it's fun, and easy, to watch Cockfield score 40 a night. But he also knows it may not be in the team's best interest in the long run, especially when he has other options like senior wing Rod English, who is averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds a game.<br /> <br /> "I would rather not have to see Ty score that many points in a game," Steele said. "But Ty gets his teammates involved and he knows when he needs to take over and when not too. But we need some of our other guys to contribute more at times."<br /> <br /> The Knights graduated 60 percent of their starting lineup from an experienced team from last year. But Cockfield, who felt like he let his team down last year in a tough second round state playoff loss, said this year's group may be better suited for a deep run in the playoffs.<br /> <br /> "I think we're all on the same page and we don't worry about who is scoring or not scoring," Cockfield said. "We just do what needs to be done to get a win. We have a good chemistry out there.<br /> <br /> "I think we have the ability to go far this year because of all that. This group doesn't quit. We learned from last year that you have to be prepared every game. I didn't show up (in that playoff game) and I think I could've worked harder so that's what I'm trying to do this year."<br /> <br /> Steele agreed.<br /> <br /> "I think he understands that better now because he has matured a lot over the last couple of years," he said. "That's the fun part of coaching; to see the kids grow as people and turn into fine young men. Ty certainly has done that."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/1/284306