Tag: cole anthony

Magic guard Cole Anthony has had Slam Dunk contest in mind for a long time

Magic guard Cole Anthony has been waiting for a particular opportunity for a very long time. Via the Orlando Sentinel:

Cole Anthony hasn’t forgotten his first dunk.

He was in the seventh grade — either 12 or 13 years old — when he threw down a left-handed slam for his first dunk. From there Anthony, who’s known to not lack confidence, proceeded to go for more challenging attempts.

“Immediately after that, I was trying to windmill,” he said. “From there, I was just trying to do more and more dunks.”

Anthony will have the opportunity to show off his dunking ambition and creativity in the NBA’s Dunk Contest on Feb. 19 in Cleveland as part of All-Star Weekend.

He described the opportunity as “a life-long dream of mine since before I could dunk.”

2022 NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest participants

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin and Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson will take flight in the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk contest on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. A first-time champion will be crowned as Anthony, Green and Toscano-Anderson are set to make their event debuts, and Toppin returns for his second appearance after finishing as the runner-up last year.

Magic guard Cole Anthony’s role will now increase

Markelle Fultz has been a nice comeback story, but unfortunately that story was forced to reset and start anew yesterday after he suffered a season-ending injury. On what comes next for the Orlando Magic, here’s the Sentinel:

For starters, rookie Cole Anthony becomes the team’s primary point guard.

“Cole, in my opinion, he’s the starter right now and I think that he’s ready to take it and grow with it and we all have great confidence in him,” Clifford said.

Anthony’s competitive nature is part of what the Magic like about him, and Clifford sees the characteristic as a plus as Anthony moves into a more pivotal role with the team. Anthony will experience growing pains, particularly with the Magic playing 14 games in the next 24 days to close out January, but Clifford likes the mindset of his young point guard.

The Magic are off to an impressive 6-2 start this season. Fultz was averaging 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 26.9 minutes per game. Anthony has actually been getting good court time for a rookie: 21.5 minutes per game, averaging 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists. That court time will now increase.

Magic sign NBA rookie Cole Anthony

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie guard Cole Anthony, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Anthony was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Anthony (6’3”, 190, 5/15/00) played in 22 games (20 starts) last season as a freshman at The University of North Carolina, averaging 18.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.32 stlpg. in 34.9 minpg. He led the Tar Heels in scoring and had the second-highest scoring average for a freshman in school history. Anthony was named Third Team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Freshman Team. He scored 20+ points nine times, including a career-high 34 points during his collegiate debut on Nov. 6, 2019 vs. Notre Dame. The 34 points was the most-ever by a UNC and ACC freshman.

As a high school senior (2018-19), Anthony was named 2019 USA Today First Team All-America and the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year. He was the Most Valuable Player of both the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game and the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic. Anthony was also a member of the U18 USA National Team, earned All-Tournament honors at the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championships and led Team USA in scoring at the 2019 Nike Hoops Summit. He is the son of Crystal McCrary and 11-year NBA veteran Greg Anthony.

Anthony will wear #50 with the Orlando Magic.

Some insight on NBA draft prospect Cole Anthony

Here’s the New York Post reporting on 2020 NBA draft prospect Cole Anthony, with insight from trainer Chris Brickley:

While the knee injury is considered a negative to some, Brickley termed it “a pivotal moment.” Anthony returned on Feb. 1 after a six-week absence.

“Ninety percent of projected lottery picks, with the team not doing well, they’re not going to come back,” Brickley said. “That spoke volumes. He came back the first few games, took charges and sacrificed his body. It was a testament to his toughness and how much he cares.”

Brickley started training Anthony when he was 16 and playing for Archbishop Molloy in Queens. Anthony transferred to basketball factory Oak Hill Academy, where in 2018-19 he averaged a triple double (18.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 10.2 assists).

Though he logged UNC numbers of 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and four assists per game, he shot an inefficient 38 percent. Criticism also surfaced about him not being a good enough playmaker who makes teammates better.

The big draft news lately is that both the draft lottery and combine, which were to take place later this month, have been postponed. It remains to be seen if the actual draft will take place in late June as per usual.

Could Cole Anthony be the right pick for Knicks?

Here’s the New York Post reporting on guard Cole Anthony, who is going pro after one season at UNC:

The Knicks need a point guard and there is a highly rated one who lives just a few subway stops from the Garden. It could be a perfect match, one that Cole Anthony — the son of former Knicks guard Greg Anthony — would welcome.

“It would be pretty cool,” the Upper West Side native and one-and-done former North Carolina star told The Post in an exclusive interview. “I was a fan for a good amount of time. I do like the Knicks. I think they definitely can use a guard, a good scoring point guard. If that happens, it would be pretty cool to play in front of my little brother.” …

If the Knicks did take Anthony, he would join a young core that includes RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox. A lot of pressure would come with staying home, expectations to get the once-proud franchise back on track. But Anthony has dealt with pressure for most of his life, as the son of Greg Anthony and an elite recruit dating back to his freshman year of high school.

The draft is scheduled for June 25.

UNC guard Cole Anthony declares for 2020 NBA draft

Here’s the Raleigh News and Observer reporting a story that won’t come as a surprise: North Carolina freshman guard Cole Anthony, son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, is going pro:

Anthony, 6-3, 190 pounds, led the Tar Heels last season with 18.5 points and 4 assists per game. His brief college career got off to a hot start. He scored 34 points in UNC’s season-opening win against Notre Dame. The Tar Heels started the season 6-3.

But injuries, and the team’s lack of on-court chemistry, led to the Tar Heels’ struggles.

Anthony missed 11 games in the middle of the season after having surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus. During that stretch, the Tar Heels went 4-7.

Their style of play changed dramatically after. Anthony was the primary ball handler, and without him, the Tar Heels had to spread the ball around more. When he returned Feb. 1 after missing those 11 games, UNC”s new style of play clashed with the old one. The Tar Heels lost seven consecutive ACC games and Anthony shot 38 percent from the floor.

Anthony remains a projected upper lottery pick. His final stats for his one college basketball season were 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 38% FG and 34.8% from three-point range.

The 2020 draft is scheduled for June 25.