Pre-Draft Stats

PTS REB AST STL BLK FG% 3P% FT% EFG% PER
18.5 5.7 4.0 1.3 0.3 38.0 34.8 75.0 45.1 17.5
Sales Pitch
Offensive minded floor general who plays with a chip on his shoulder and can fill up the stats in a hurry.
Background
In a Draft Class that is rich in point guard depth, Cole Anthony expects to be one of the top ball handlers when it comes to pure offensive firepower. The son of former UNLV and NBA player Greg Anthony, Cole Anthony had become one of the most highly recruited high school players in the country and was ranked as high as 2nd in the ESPN100. After finally deciding to attend North Carolina, there was a massive hype train building that Anthony could give Memphis big man James Wiseman a run for his money as the potential number one overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Unfortunately for Anthony, it was a roller coaster of a season in Chapel Hill. With a North Carolina team that was lacking offensive firepower, Anthony was simply asked to do too much for the Tar Heel faithful.
Pro Comparison
Flashes of Jamaal Murray and Kemba Walker
Positives

MULTI-LEVEL SCORER

  • Can hurt you in a variety of ways. Explosive scoring threat with limitless range. Serious potential in the pick and roll game, especially with added NBA spacing. Shifty in and out of dribbles. Ranked in the 92nd percentile (via Synergy) when it came to isolation offense. 

TRANSITION THREAT

  • Monster potential as a transition threat. Attacks the defensive glass and is off to the races in a hurry. Outside shooting ability and feel for the game make him a threat to score in a variety of ways on the break. 

COMPETITIVENESS

  • Plays bigger than his size. Fearless when getting downhill and attacking the rim. Goes right into the body of defenders. Shows willingness to compete on the defensive side of the ball. Plays hard, plays smart. Untapped defensive potential with high energy makes him a coach's dream. 
Negatives

FINISHING

  • Struggled to finish around the rim, mainly because of the terrifying spacing at UNC this year. Posted a 39.2 FG% around the rim. Has the athleticism and ability to become a much more successful finisher...but scouts will scratch their heads. 

PLAYMAKING ABILITY 

  • Very dominant when it comes to scoring offensively. Didn't show a lot of flashes as a facilitator. Is he a score-first option at the NBA level or is there another level to his game?

DEFENSIVE VERSATILITY

  • While he plays with a high motor, he will need some fine-tuning when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Length and overall size will raise some question marks when going against bigger opponents. Ball watcher off of the ball. 
Overall
North Carolina's Cole Anthony is flat out oozing with potential. After a shaky season in Chapel Hill, there's going to be plenty of questions about where Anthony will fall on draft day. He's been a production monster at every level, and even put up respectable numbers during his only year for the Tar Heels. While some evaluators might write off Anthony after the Tar Heels underwhelming season, his potential as an NBA asset is still undeniable. Anthony might have earned himself the "risk" tag when it comes to draft boards, but he also could provide to become an absolute steal on draft day.
Birthplace

Portland, OR
United States

NBA Team
Orlando Magic
Draft Selection
15
Twitter
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Cole Anthony

Cole Anthony
After a rollercoaster freshman year, many want to know if Cole Anthony is bound to become a steal in the first round of the NBA Draft.
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