Know all details about agent Omar Cooper and his role in shaping Ace Bailey’s career
Omar Sharife Cooper, the man guiding Ace Bailey’s entry into the NBA with Utah Jazz, has drawn as much attention as the highly-touted prospect himself. Representing Bailey through his agency, LifeStyle Sports, Cooper has been central to the conversation surrounding Bailey’s unusual and guarded pre-draft process.
Who is Omar Sharife Cooper, basketball agent of Ace Bailey, bio, age, daughter, clients list, agency and Instagram
Omar is the C.E.O and Founder of LifeStyle Sports Agency and LifeStyle Sports Bistro.
Bailey, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, did not attend a single pre-draft workout—a decision that raised eyebrows across the league. At the heart of that strategy lies Cooper, who first mentored Bailey during his high school days. Bailey had moved from Tennessee to Georgia specifically to play for Cooper’s AAU program, “Athletes of Tomorrow.” From there, Cooper helped him land at Rutgers and has remained a pivotal figure in his career.
Omar Cooper, Ace Bailey’s agent
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) June 27, 2025
Cooper’s influence over Bailey’s draft strategy has been both strategic and controversial. Multiple reports indicated that he blocked team workouts unless franchises committed to Bailey beforehand—a rare demand in the NBA scouting ecosystem. One such instance involved a cancelled workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who held the No. 3 pick, after Cooper reportedly insisted on a verbal commitment from the team.
The camp’s preference, according to insiders, was to see Bailey land with a team in the Eastern Conference—ideally located somewhere between New York and Atlanta. Despite the criticism, Cooper has stood by his approach. In interviews, he claimed Bailey’s development required complete focus, stating their original plan was to keep him in the gym “from sunup to sundown.” He has expressed such faith in Bailey’s potential that he described anything short of the No. 1 pick as “uncivilized.”
[Sarah Todd] Ok. So, confirmed that Omar Cooper is not an NBPA certified agent. Ace Bailey does have other representation in the way of an agent, so I'm not really sure why Cooper is calling himself Bailey's agent. But Cooper is reportedly the person who has been the voice for Ace throughout…
byu/sClassic innba
Adding to the intrigue is Cooper’s own complex past. According to reports, he has a history of legal trouble, including a 1990s conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine near a school and an indictment in 2003 for possessing illegal firearms. Though he served six months for the drug charge and the other charges were dismissed, his past continues to fuel skepticism around his role in professional sports.
Despite that, Cooper has built a small but loyal client base. Besides Bailey, his current roster includes Rutgers’ Tariq Francis and G League free agent Babatunde Akingbola. In a draft filled with talent and tension, Omar Cooper’s calculated decisions—and the backlash they triggered—ensure that Ace Bailey’s NBA journey began under a spotlight far brighter than most rookies experience.
Cooper, 50, remains steadfast in his viewpoints as the head of LifeStyle Sports Agency and also has a daughter named Stori who was born on 30 January.
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