John Arthur Cox (2018) - Hall of Fame - University of San Francisco Athletics

Hall of Fame

John Arthur Cox

Class

2005
Induction

2018
Sport(s)

Men's Basketball

Position: Small Forward, Shooting Guard
USF Career Years: 2001-2005
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
High School: George Washington Carver High School
Career Highlights: 1st-Team All WCC, Led Dons to NIT in 2005

John Arthur Cox was born in Caracas, Venezuela to American parents. He was the son of a professional basketball player, John "Chubby" Cox. At the time of his birth, his father was playing basketball in Venezuela, and had also played for the Washington Bullets of the NBA.

He was a local basketball standout as a high school player at George Washington Carver in Philadelphia. Cox became one of the top scorers in Philadelphia High School history. At 6' 5", 195 lbs., he finished his senior year with a career total of 1,798 points, averaged 29 PPG, and 52% from the field.

Cox went on to have a successful career at the USF from 2001-2005. Injuries forced him to sit out the 2000 season and all but one game of the 2003 season. As a senior he had 621 points with 20.0 PPG. At the end of his USF career, he ranked eighth in points (1,540), second in career three-pointers (185), ranked fifth in games played (117) and third in minutes played (3510). He was named First Team All-WCC as a senior in 2004. Cox led the Dons to a NIT appearance in 2005.

Cox played pro basketball for in the LNB Pro A tier, and for the EuroLeague. In 2017, he signed with the French team Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez.

He is the first cousin of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. Both Cox and his father reached the LPB finals, one of six father-son duos to do so in Venezuela.

Why Cox Chose USF: "My mother and father bled Green and Gold so it was already in my DNA."

Favorite USF Memories: "I had many ups and downs on the Hilltop. In the end my time at USF was the best time of my life."

The USF Student-Athlete Experience: "It was real grind balancing basketball and academics."

Did You Know?: Cox was born in Venezuela. At the time of his birth his father John "Chubby" Cox was playing basketball in Venezuela so Cox has dual citizenship. Cox has represented Venezuela internationally on many different occasions. He played for the team at the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament and at the 2015 Pan American Games. He also played at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship where he was a part of Venezuela's first Intercontinental Title, and played for Venezuela at the 2016 Olympics. He was also the leading score in the 2016 FIBA AmeriCup.

Life After USF: After 2005, Cox played professional basketball overseas, in the EuroLeague, and in France in the LNB Pro A, and with Élan Béanais Pau-Orthez.

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