Cooper DeJean confident he can defeat Caitlin Clark in one-on-one basketball

Former Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, a possible NFL first-round pick, believes he could beat basketball star Caitlin Clark one-on-one.

Former Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, recently expressed his confidence in his basketball skills by claiming he could defeat Caitlin Clark in a one-on-one game. DeJean, standing at 6-foot-1, shared that he was asked by NFL teams about his ability to go head-to-head with Clark, who is now a star player for the Indiana Fever.

Clark had an outstanding senior season at Iowa, breaking numerous NCAA records and becoming the all-time leading scorer in collegiate basketball history. Her presence on the court has even led to the breaking of the college women's basketball all-time viewership record multiple times in the past year.

Despite not playing organized basketball since high school, DeJean remains optimistic about his chances against Clark. With an impressive average of 25.9 points per game during his senior year, DeJean believes he could hold his own against the NCAA's record-breaking scorer.

In a statement to Yahoo! Sports, DeJean confidently stated, 'I think I can. She'd probably get a few buckets on me, but I think I could pull it off.' His athletic background includes being a three-sport athlete in high school and excelling as an all-state sprinter in track and field.

DeJean's high school basketball career saw him surpassing future NBA player Harrison Barnes in career points, solidifying his skills on the court. Despite not receiving Division-I basketball offers, DeJean was still recognized as a top-200 football recruit in the nation.

As Clark gears up to start her WNBA journey next month, her impact on the league is already evident through the surge in ticket prices. With DeJean's confidence and competitive spirit, a potential matchup between him and Clark would surely be an exciting and closely contested game.