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NBA Draft 2020: Evaluating UNC Basketball stand out freshman Cole Anthony

By Daniel Priest

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 15: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels waits to inbound the ball during the first half of their game against the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 15: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels waits to inbound the ball during the first half of their game against the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Intelligence and fire

Aside from his physical tools, Anthony has both the intelligence and desire to lead his team to success on the court.

From the time he was playing in high school, Anthony’s scoring always stood out, but his game goes much deeper than just putting the ball in the basket. ESPN Analyst Jay Bilas pointed to Anthony’s all-around game that makes him special:

"“Cole Anthony is going to be a great player. He’s legit,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “He’s got a chance to be not only the ACC Player of the Year, but he could wind up being a first-team All-American. He can do everything.”"

One thing that Anthony will provide right away at the next level is the ability to see the floor and create opportunities for teammates. Check out what he did when being blitzed in a pick and roll situation against Alabama:

Anthony provides versatility both as a ball-handler and a passer. His vision out of pick and rolls is bound to be somewhat limited due to his size, but Anthony can still use creative angles to make passes to teammates.

He has the ability to create space with his dribble which creates room for not only himself to drive and score but to open up his teammates and find them as well. Again, he is able to find angles to deliver passes, and he puts them in spots that help out his big men:

The willingness to make the simple pass rather than try to be flashy will serve Anthony well moving forward as he gets ready to go to the next level. He’s flashed some impressive ability with limited spacing in the college game, so opening up to a spread-out floor in the NBA should only benefit him.

One other factor that will attribute greatly to Anthony as an NBA prospect is his all-out competitiveness. He absolutely does not stop or quit on any plays. His average of seven rebounds per game at his size should be evidence of his nonstop motor.

Anthony is going to give a full-out effort at all times on the court. Of course, at UNC he is the primary facilitator, so he tends to take some plays off defensively, but at the next level, while trying to earn minutes, Anthony should be giving it his all every possession.

What he may lack in instincts or end to end quickness, he can make up for with effort. If there’s one thing that always seems to rise to the top in the NBA and during the draft process, its effort guys. Anthony certainly proves that along with a nonstop will to win.

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