The point guard is a critical part of the Magic’s squad, averaging 15.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 30 minutes of action per game. Alongside budding star and SLAM 235 cover star Paolo Banchero, the Magic are working towards building something reminiscent of their Finals runner-up teams in 1995 and 2009.

His return timetable will be determined as he undergoes further evaluation.

The post Cole Anthony’s Health Status Uncertain After Suffering Oblique Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Preparation Award: LeBron James 

LeBron is LeBron because of his insane work ethic. This summer, if a workout was scheduled for 10 AM, LBJ would walk in early at 9:15 AM. He’d then do a workout routine that included stretching, balance, and core for about 40 minutes. Once he was done with that, he’d go back to his post workout routine—stretching, some cool down and then balance exercises. For a player going into his 20th season, his body sure doesn’t look like it but he moves on the court like he’s 31, not 37.

Early Bird Award: Jimmy Butler 

Jimmy and I travelled the world this summer. From time zone to time zone, we worked out in New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Miami, the Hamptons, Switzerland, Paris…the list goes on. No matter where we were, we would always start our workouts at 6 AM—I’m not going to lie, but sometimes, depending on the time, I would be super tired when my alarm rang at 5 in the morning. But it was always a great feeling to be done with his first workout by 7:30 AM. In Europe, we even did double sessions. Jimmy had a great summer and I’m excited for him to show off his work this season. 

Biggest Black Ops Surprise (Non-NBA Player): Ian Jackson 

Over the years, I’ve had many elite high school players play in the summer Black Ops Runs: Donovan Mitchell, Obi Toppin, Cole Anthony, Adrian Griffin to name a few. But no high school player had a summer like Cardinal Hayes’ Ian Jackson. His first Black Ops Run was a learning lesson—the pace of the game was very fast for him and he struggled. However, he did come back the next day and played great and had eight threes and a series of nice dunks and passes. After that day, he was comfortable and he surprised NBA players all summer.

The Record Holder: CJ McCollum

There are a few drills each summer that I keep track of, specifically the player shooting 50 threes off the dribble or 100 threes off of the move. Well, CJ McCollum holds the record in almost all of them. He has an incredible work ethic and a very consistent jump shot. He made 92 out of 100 threes in one of the drills and also broke a few other records. 

Viral Sneaker Moment: LeBron James 

LeBron came to a workout one time with a light brown box in his hand. But there was no writing on the box. It wasn’t until after he did his pre-workout stretching routine that he laced up his sneakers and revealed that they were the LeBron 20s. It was the first time anyone had seen them. Within minutes of me posting a picture of them, the photo was everywhere and the top story on every sneaker blog across the world. Definitely a special moment. 

Breakout Season: Dre Hunter 

Dre Hunter worked out with me for the first time this summer and he was hungry! He learned very quickly and always pushed himself. I was very impressed with his professionalism and his skill level, too, and I think this year will be a huge year for Dre. 

Best 1 Day Performance in a Black Ops Run: Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown came to NYC during Fashion Week and pulled up to a Black Ops run. He dominated the run offensively and defensively, even hitting a series of game winners. He couldn’t be stopped and the entire gym saw how talented he was that day. On top of dominating the game, he had asked me to put Ian Jackson on his team so he could mentor him. He’s truly a great leader. 

What People Don’t Know: Drake’s Jumpshot

Everyone knows about Drake’s new gym at his house in Toronto but not everyone knows about how he’s improved his jumpshot. His form looked completely different from when I saw him last—he even played in a run at the Summit and hit 13 threes. The video went viral. 

Most Focused: Ty Jerome 

Ty Jerome’s work ethic this summer was on 1,000. He came to the gym all summer long to workout; he would jump into others players workouts to learn and he really improved. Every player that came to the gym consistently improved their games but Ty improved the most. I’m excited that he has landed on the Warriors. I think that’s a great fit for him. 

Efficiency Award: Kevin Love 

Kevin Love had a very productive offseason. Coming off of getting runner up for Sixth Man of the Year, he had an extra pep in his step this summer. We would shoot 100 threes after each workout and Kev would never get below 75; he’d average between 80 and 85. That is what I call efficient shooting. 

Best Conditioned: Julius Randle 

By the end of the offseason, Julius would come to the gym and workout for 90 minutes straight with no water break and free throws. He would ask me to push him as much as possible and most of the drills would be full court, too. He has to be one of the best conditioned athletes in all of the NBA. 

Biggest Surprise in a Black Ops Run: Paolo Banchero

Paolo came to a run after he was drafted No. 1 and people didn’t know what to expect at first. Well, when they left that day, they knew that Paolo was going to be a very special player. He scored in a number of ways: slashing to the hoop, mid post, offensive rebounds and threes. Funny part about his performance was that after the first game, I went up to him and said, “Can you please be aggressive!” He definitely listened and after a slow start, he stringed off about eight great games. 

Viral Moment: Donovan Mitchell’s Dunk

The angle of the video did not do the dunk justice, but when Donovan blew by his opponent and raised up for a two-hand dunk, he dunked it so hard that the entire backboard shifted. We had to stop the game and shift it back into center. The video went viral and the funny part was that one of the players had yelled out to Paolo Banchero, “Welcome to the NBA.” Unfortunately, Paolo was the one Donovan had blown by.

King of the Hill Award: Kevin Porter Jr.

During the course of the summer, one of my favorite things to do is have the players play 1-on-1. Kevin Porter Jr. was unstoppable in that setting and it didn’t matter if there was a three dribble limit or a single dribble limit. Kevin won every 1-on-1 matchup that summer.

Point God Award: Darius Garland and Cole Anthony

We’ve had some incredible performances by point guards this summer, but both Darius Garland and Cole Anthony played tremendously. The game looked so easy for them: not only do they make their teammates better, but they can get to anywhere they want on the court and make tough shots. Both of those guys have bright futures in the NBA.

Watch Out For: Kiyan Anthony 

Kiyan Anthony, who will be a sophomore at Christ the King, had one of those summers where you say, Man he got so much better! Not only did he grow about four inches this summer, but his game has really developed. He already has a handful of Division I offers and he’s nationally ranked.

The post The 2022 Black Ops Basketball Summer Recap and Awards appeared first on SLAM.

While there’s always pressure following the No. 1 overall pick, Banchero didn’t seem to feel any of it. But even considering Banchero’s brilliant Summer League performances, Coach Jamahl Mosely wanted to pump the breaks on any Superman talk concerning his potential franchise cornerstone.

The second-year coach says he wants to take as much pressure off Banchero’s shoulders as possible and will focus on a holistic, by-committee approach with the team, even if Banchero may already be geared to be the franchise’s next superstar.

“I really believe that we’re going to do it by committee, honestly,” Mosley told ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “Look at the Warriors. Look at Milwaukee; you look at Memphis. There’s something about the committee in which they do it. One person will speak at times, but there’s other guys holding each one accountable. There’s one guy that will speak up and do it a different way, work in a different way. 

And while Mosely is confident his players are buying into the system, Bachero’s teammates can’t help but marvel at the talent, and potential the 19-year-old possesses. In practicing with Banchero, point guard Cole Anthony understands the Seattle native can’t do everything for the team but knows he’ll play an integral part in Orlando’s future. 

“I’ve been in the gym with [Banchero] a little bit already, seeing him out here, just doing what he does,” Anthony said to ESPN. “He’s going to help us a lot. And now I feel like we can really start building something.”

“That kid is so talented,” Anthony went on to say. “He loves the game. He works hard, and I think — he’s going to be really good.”

With a young group of players including Banchero, Anthony, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz, Mo Wagner, and R.J. Hampton, the 2022 ACC Player of the Year will have to not only focus on his individual play but also on his fit on a young roster. And even though he was a consensus five-star recruit out of high school and attended arguably the most prominent basketball university in the country, Banchero admits he’s still adjusting to the spotlight of the NBA.

“A year and a half ago, I was a high schooler,” Banchero said. “I wasn’t used to that. Now it’s different.”

But he’s not shying away from the moment, and with Mosley’s approach and the support from his vets, Banchero says he’s ready for his time in the spotlight. He dominated at Duke, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 48 percent shooting from the field, and he looks to do the same in the League.

“It’s just added intensity, added pressure, when the whole crowd’s clapping and standing up when you have the ball,” Banchero said. “It’s just stuff you dream of, in the arena where the whole crowd’s eyes are on you. You just want that moment. That’s just what I live for.”

The post Excitement Building around Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic’s Young Core appeared first on SLAM.

The contest featured Obi Toppin (New York Knicks), Cole Anthony (Orlando Magic), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Golden State Warriors), and Jalen Green (Houston Rockets).

The one thing that this contest brought that fans would remember is the footwear of a particular contestant that went back to hit NYC roots to attempt a dunk.

First Round: (Jalen Green and Cole Anthony get eliminated)

Cole Anthony pulled off a stunt that is difficult in any YMCA, much less an NBA arena. He put on some Timbs to bring the New York vibe to the contest. Then he put on his father, Greg Anthony’s, Knicks jersey to show homage. After two non-attempts, he put down a left-hand windmill for a score of 40.

Timbs on? Still bouncy.@The_ColeAnthony @GregAnthony50 #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/noKTQv0fu7

— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022

However, Cole injured himself on the dunk and missed three times on his next dunk, and was eliminated. It was a shame considering that dunk brought a lot of energy to the crowd and the announcers. Even Toppin was pointing to his wrist, wondering when the clock would start.

While Cole Anthony provided the theater, Green probably had the most impressive dunk of the first round with an impressive between-the-legs 360 dunk finishing away from the basket.

Jalen Green defying gravity in #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/kE6Gzifvny

— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022

What doomed this year’s pre-competition favorite was completing his first dunk. The plan was to get a pass off the backboard from Josh Christopher running out of bounds in the corner. But after two misses, Green had to settle with a windmill off an underhand lob that received the lowest score of any completed dunk in the first round.

Toppin and Toscano-Anderson made the final the old-fashioned way by not missing any dunk attempts.

Final round: (Juan Toscano-Anderson had some controversy on his first dunk)

In the finals, Toscano-Anderson tried to put his elbow in the rim ala Vince Carter but did not get enough lift to hang on the rim to finish. According to the rules, it was considered a dunk attempt, and he could not try again. The score of 39 basically doomed his chances.

He then tried to replicate Jason Richardson’s iconic dunk with a pass off the backboard into a left-hand windmill between the legs that went nowhere. He missed all three attempts, and for all practical purposes, the contest was over with a score of 30.

Obi Toppin went on to take the Slam Dunk Contest with some impressive dunks.

Obi Toppin had some creative dunks to become the #ATTSlamDunk Champion! #StateFarmSaturday #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/Mt0DJqgjbc

— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022

With the win, Obi Toppin became the third Knicks player to win the Slam Dunk Contest along with the three-time winner Nate Robinson and Kenny Walker.

The post Obi Toppin Uses Consistency to Take the NBA Slam Dunk Contest appeared first on SLAM.

The addition of four players from the NBA G League Ignite developmental team with a four-team draft set the stage for three entertaining basketball games. The winners had to get to 50 points in the first round and 25 points in the final round.

Team Worthy vs. Team Isiah (Game to 50):

This was probably one of the more exciting games of the night. Jalen Green sparked Team Worthy, who led everyone in the game in scoring, and the Orlando Magic connection, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs.

Jalen Suggs Cole Anthony

Cole Anthony giving us a sample of his hops…see them on full display tomorrow in the #ATTSlamDunk contest! #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/z3jYsdceAg

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 19, 2022

Team Isiah looked like they had things well in hand to go to the next round before Team Worthy went on a massive 15-4 run to put go ahead 40-39. Both teams were neck and neck up to a 48-48 tie.

Then the Cole Anthony effect happened.

With Jalen Suggs on the line to end the game, Anthony said something to Suggs, with the rookie out Gonzaga missing the subsequent free throw.

That left the door for Team Isiah to win the game with Desmond Bane at the line. Anthony had a conversation with him, too, and even pulled down his shorts to distract him! Only for Bane to hit both of his free throws to end things.

Cole Anthony really pulled down his shorts during Bane’s free throw pic.twitter.com/WLEIBQlfN4

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2022

Team Isiah defeats Team Worthy 50-49.

Team Barry vs. Team Payton (Game to 50):

While the first game showed a ton of highlight dunks and flashy play, things were a little more structured in this one. Hall of Famer Rick Barry will probably be the only coach in an All-Star event that mandates set plays to start a game, while Gary Payton, also a Hall of Famer, hasn’t lost a bit of competitive fire, too say the least.

Gary Payton was trash talking the ref from the bench pic.twitter.com/RJ5t4gfEDL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2022

For a while, it looked like Team Payton was off to win after a strong start by Timberwolves’ rookie Jaden McDaniels, but crowd favorite Mobley kept things close by dominating down low and getting easy baskets.

But when the Pistons’ number one overall pick, Cunningham, got warmed up, Team Barry’s offense started clicking with their ball movement, and the game turned around.

In a down to the wire affair like the previous first-round game, Team Barry was just disciplined enough to win thanks to two final baskets by Houston Rockets’ Jae’Shan Tate, including this game-winner!

Jae’Sean Tate takes it to the rack for the win!

Team Barry advances to the #CloroxRisingStars Final, where they’ll face Team Isiah following the #CloroxClutch Challenge on TNT. pic.twitter.com/UO4Twm2BJe

— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2022

LaMelo Ball almost stole the pass and nearly ripped the ball from Tate in vain, but it was not enough.

Team Barry defeats Team Payton 50-48.

The Clorox Clutch Challenge!

Tyrese Haliburton and Bane were the only players to knock down five shots from positions of famous NBA Finals shots of the past to win the challenge.

Tyrese Haliburton and Desmond Bane finish in under 40 seconds to win the #CloroxClutch Challenge! pic.twitter.com/cuTNrmnciC

— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2022

What most will remember from this event was Scottie Barnes continually missing the layup part of the competition.

Team Barry vs. Team Isiah (Game to 25):

Just like in the first game, Team Isiah opened up a lead over Team Barry thanks to Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa’s quick 13 points to get within shouting distance of the targeted 25 points.

Precious Achiuwa is on fire!

He’s up to 13 points in the #CloroxRisingStars final…Team Isiah is 7 points away from the winning Target Score of 25 on TNT. pic.twitter.com/pmc79M5bks

— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2022

But like in the first game, Team Isiah allowed a momentum-stealing run to enable their lead to evaporate. This time it cost them as tournament MVP Cade Cunningham took over, hitting huge shots to help Team Barry triumph over Team Isiah in the championship game with a 13-2 run.

Team Barry wins the tournament over Team Isiah 25-20.

The post Team Barry Wins A Newly Formatted 2022 NBA Rising Stars tournament appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, Shams Charania reported the four players participating in this year’s dunk contest. Jalen Green, Obi Toppin, Cole Anthony and Juan Toscano-Anderson.

It appears dunk contests are a young man’s game now, as two of the dunk contest participants, Toppin and Anthony, are second-year players, Toscano-Anderson is in his third season, and Green is a rookie.

Toppin is the lone member of the quartet to have participated in the dunk contest before, competing in last year’s dunk contest and finishing in second place behind Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons. Some may remember this opening dunk from Toppin in 2021.

The other three participants will be first-timers at the event but should provide an excellent spectacle for fans.

Green, a rookie for the Houston Rockets drafted second overall in 2021, has averaged 14.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game but has shown flashes of being something special. For the dunk contest, though, he has certainly shown the ability to throw it down.

Anthony has had a breakout year for the Orlando Magic in his second season out of the University of North Carolina so far this year. Anthony averages 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game for a Magic team that desperately needs his production. Anthony even has some dunk contest experience to fall back on, winning the City of Palms high school dunk contest.

Toscano-Anderson is the unlikeliest to win of the four candidates, as just three years ago, he wasn’t even in the NBA. Toscano-Anderson was an undrafted free agent out of Marquette in 2015 and spent time playing professionally in Mexico, Venezuela, and the NBA’s G-League before playing his way onto the Golden State Warriors roster.

Just like the other three, Toscano-Anderson can get up.

The NBA’s All-Star weekend is in just a few weeks, starting on Friday, Feb. 18. The dunk contest and skill challenge will take place on Saturday, Feb. 19, with the All-Star Game wrapping up the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 20.

The post REPORT: Jalen Green Among Four Named Dunk Contest Participants appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony recorded 33 points, three steals and two blocks on 13-20 shooting from the field, knocking down five threes – becoming the third-youngest player in franchise history to record his third 30 piece.

so nice he did it twice

: https://t.co/3b5LcPuNP3 https://t.co/MwEkvAN5hE pic.twitter.com/d7UQvMZXzu

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 8, 2021

“Facts. Facts. C’mon, facts. We fought, man. Shoutout to the team, man. Shoutout to RJ. Shoutout to Dell. Shoutout to Mo Bamba. Shoutout to my whole team; you know we had to go get that dub, man.” Anthony said.

The quote just doesn’t give the interview its do-diligence.

“Shout to my whole team, man. You know we had to go get that dub, man.”

postgame with @The_ColeAnthony hits different pic.twitter.com/J9Kl5aVZsQ

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 8, 2021

The 21-year-old guard is having a sensational second season, averaging 20.2 points, 5.2 assists , and 7.1 boards while shooting 41.4 percent from downtown.

After recording their first home win of the season, the Magic will look to defend home-court once again when the Brooklyn Nets come into town Wednesday night.

The post Cole Anthony Gives One of the Realest Post-Game Interviews in a While: ‘You Know We Had to Get That Dub’ appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony, a charismatic young guard with a knack for scoring, has appeared in 47 games as a rookie for the Magic, averaging 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

He started in 34 games after Markelle Fultz’s injury, showing what he can do in a larger sample size.

Hampton, the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was traded to the Magic midseason as part of the Denver Nuggets’ deal for Aaron Gordon.

Notably, Hampton was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for his performance in May, when he was able to average 16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game on 45.7 percent from the field and 43.5 percent shooting from 3-point range.

Okeke, the 16th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last season. He has shown flashes of being a great defensive player and was ranked sixth amongst rookies in steals (Okeke’s rookie season was in 2020-21).

The post Orlando Magic Exercise Team Options on Anthony, Hampton, Okeke appeared first on SLAM.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Anthony has a non-displaced fracture of his right first rib and will not return before the All-Star break. This is quite the blow for Orlando, as they’ve had perhaps the most injuries of any team this season. 

With how thin the Magic will now be at point guard, decisions will need to be made on how they proceed. If they are still looking to make a playoff push, Orlando may need to make a splash on the trade market to bolster their guard rotation. 

Prior to this injury, Anthony averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

The post Cole Anthony Out Until After All-Star Break With Rib Injury appeared first on SLAM.

“The simplicity of it,” Anthony says about his favorite part of the game. “How 99 percent of the time, the more simple something is, the more effective it is,” he continues. “A lot of times, people get caught up in overcomplicating stuff, doing 100 moves. Shoot, even I can get caught up in that sometimes. I’ll be the first to admit it. But at the end of the day, shoot, the more simple you are, a lot of times it’s more effective. I really appreciate small aspects of the game like that. At the end of the day, it’s a super high-level, super highly talented game, but just how simple it can be sometimes.

“It’s just something from years of playing the game,” he says. “You watch a lot of basketball, you play a lot of basketball, it’s something you learn. Shoot, look, I’m still learning. I even struggled with it a lot this year. I tried to overcomplicate things a lot. That’s why I struggled, realistically. Just getting back to that mode of not overcomplicating the game. I think that’s what’s going to help me ultimately succeed.”

Anthony is, of course, being overly critical. The 6-3 freshman point guard played in 22 contests for the Tar Heels, putting up a strong line of 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4 assists. He had at least 20 points in nine of those contests, led by a 34-point outburst in a win against Notre Dame. There were four games where he hit double-digit rebounds and two outings that saw him grab four steals. Anthony’s skillset is built on raw athleticism, at least to the untrained eye. But the way he finds gaps in the paint with consistent footwork, the high-arching ascension of his follow-through on his jumper and the low-angle pocket passes he throws out of the pick-and-roll all point to an understanding of basketball’s smallest minutiae. And in those moments where it’s all going right, where the fine points of basketball are all in-tune, that’s where Anthony finds his zone, even if he doesn’t show it.

“When everything’s going right, honestly, no emotions,” he says. “I play best and I’m at my best when I’m in a super calm and zen mode. I’ve learned I don’t like to get super hype before a game. I’m not going to listen to Chief Keef or something. I’ve got to be in a super calm mode because when I show no emotion is when I play my best.”

He’s on his way to the League now, with an abundance of those no-emotion modes in his rearview.

“I’ve always been in love with the game of basketball,” he says. “That’s been one thing I’ve never had to question. I’ve always had love, always had passion, always been super competitive. Since I was a child. My mom has this photo of me when I think I was about nine months old of me just throwing a basketball in a hoop. It’s been love ever since then.”

In the nearly 20 years since that photo was taken, Anthony’s basketball journey has twisted and turned from New York to Virginia to North Carolina. It’s even landed him on the cover of SLAM. The dedication to the game, no matter what team name was on the jersey, has been consistent. On a walk down memory lane, two moments stick out to the former McDonald’s All-American.

“My favorite game was my freshman, going into my sophomore year, of high school. AAU. Semifinal game. Peach Jam.”

There’s a rhythm to him. Each declarative part of that introduction brings him closer and closer to entering that game mode even on a cross-country Zoom call.

“It was me, Quade Green, Mo Bamba, Brandon Randolph, Hasahn French,” he continues. “We had a little squad. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t remember all the music, all the shoes, all that. I just remember the game. I just remember us struggling early in the game. We go down 22 at halftime. We ended up, second half, coming back. Quade went crazy. We just ended up somehow winning that game against Team Penny. That was wild. I remember trying to dunk on PJ Washington, getting my dunk blocked. Quade actually posted this picture a few days ago. Quade hit an and-1 three. And I went and rushed on him to pick him up. I’m kinda, like, screaming in his face, he’s screaming in my face. That’s a legendary picture right there. We were all hype. I just remember the gym was electric. And we were all just, like, hype.”

He’s got a big smile across his face even as he finishes that story by noting they lost in the championship to Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. But as a basketball junkie, which Anthony is, that’s the stuff that he lives for. It’s been that way for years now.

“The first time he told me he wanted to take [basketball] serious, we were in a little league baseball game,” his father, Greg, told SLAM in 2018. “He had just finished fifth grade and was getting ready for sixth grade. He was playing baseball at the time. He had a good game and I’m there, excited and thinking, Well, maybe it’ll be baseball. At the time, he hadn’t really shown an affinity or any real ability in basketball. He came to me after the game and said, ‘Dad, I just want to tell you that I just want to concentrate on basketball. I don’t really want to play any other sports.’ It was a bit of a shock because at that time, he wasn’t really that good at basketball. I said to him that day, ‘Ok, if that’s what you want to do, these are the things that we’re going to have to do for you to get better.’ And I think it was when he took ownership at that moment that he started to get better as a basketball player. He started playing it more and his single-minded focus was just on playing basketball.”

“I think it was sixth grade nationals,” he begins of the moment he knew something big was in the works. “We went to the D1 Nationals. We weren’t really a team that was supposed to do that well. We ended up beating this team, Team Nelson, they were pretty good. I think they were from Jersey. I had 38 that game. And this is back in, like, fifth, sixth grade. Ain’t nobody getting 38 back then. I was like, ‘Woah!’ It’s funny. I didn’t even know. We was in practice the next day and our coach was talking to us. He’s like, ‘This is why Cole had 38.’ I said, ‘Wait.’ I said, ’38?’ I said, ‘What?’ He brings out his phone, starts passing it around to everybody. I’m like, ‘Yo, I had 38! That’s alright.’ So we won that game. Next game I came out and had 28. I was like, ‘Yo, I felt like I could really do something with this.’ So from then I just ran with it. Even now, I’m still uber-confident. The confidence level will never leave me.”

He doesn’t say it with any type of cockiness at all. It’s more like a realization, one that floods back with the story, making him clock how long he’s really been doing this.

“Hopefully whatever team drafts me, I’m going to bring that to them from day one,” he says.

So watch Cole Anthony play when he makes the League. Look out for a two-handed chest pass or a catch-and-shoot three where his mechanics are perfectly moving in concert. Pay closer attention to fully see the big picture.

—

Max Resetar is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @maxresetar.

Photos via Getty Images. 

The post My Time: Cole Anthony is Bringing His Basketball IQ to the League appeared first on SLAM.

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Selected first, second, sixth and fifteenth, respectively, all four of them donned the shirts during their life-changing night. 

Peep the artistry below and hit up Foot Locker for more of their #12DaysOfGreatness. 

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The post Don C x Foot Locker Gift Four Rookies Customized Shirts to Kick Off #12DaysOfGreatness appeared first on SLAM.

But the question remains: Who’ll go No. 1 next June?

The post Will LaMelo Ball Be the No. 1 Pick? 🤔 2020 NBA Draft Preview! appeared first on SLAM.

Born and raised in New York City, Cole is the son of former Knick Greg Anthony. He starred at Oak Hill Academy during his senior season and won MVP at the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.

At UNC, Anthony will join five-star center Armando Bacot from IMG.

The post Five-Star Prospect Cole Anthony Commits to North Carolina appeared first on SLAM.

Peep the full JBC game highlights above!

The post Cole Anthony & James Wiseman Win MVP of 2019 Jordan Brand Classic! 🏆 appeared first on SLAM.

Edwards is committed to the Georgia Bulldogs, while Anthony, son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, will announce his college decision on Monday.

Watch their JBC practice highlights above!

RELATED: Cole Anthony Came to Oak Hill for Greatness |SLAM Day in the Life

The post Cole Anthony & Anthony Edwards TEAM UP | Jordan Brand Classic Practice appeared first on SLAM.

Check out some of Mannion and Anthony’s highlights below.

The post Nico Mannion & Cole Anthony SHOW OUT in First McDonald’s All-American Practice! 🍔 appeared first on SLAM.

We spent some time with Cole, Kofi Cockburn and Cam Thomas in the mountains for a day to learn what makes these hoopers tick. Check out the results in the video above.

RELATED:
Cole Anthony and Kofi Cockburn Are BORN LEADERS | SLAM Practice

The post Cole Anthony Came to Oak Hill for GREATNESS | SLAM Day in the Life appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony and Cockburn took over Cali back in January at the Nike Extravaganza.

The post Cole Anthony and Kofi Cockburn Are BORN LEADERS 🎙 | SLAM Practice appeared first on SLAM.

Oak Hill went to work against Bull City Prep and defeated them by a 30-piece last month.

The post Oak Hill Manager Checks Into Game!? 🤣 EPIC Appearance on Senior Night! appeared first on SLAM.

Check out part one of Anthony’s senior season highlights.

The post Cole Anthony and Oak Hill Win by 30 POINTS!? 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony returned to the court at the Nike Extravaganza in California last month after being sidelined with an ankle injury.

The post #1 PG Cole Anthony CRAZY Senior Highlights Part One! 😈 appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony and his Oak Hill boys put on a show at the City of Palms Classic back in December.

The post Cole Anthony is BACK IN ACTION for Oak Hill! 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Earlier this week, Anthony led all scorers with 25 points in Oak Hill’s debut at City of Palms.

The post Cole Anthony & Oak Hill HEAT UP with Roy Williams Courtside! 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

In this week’s SLAM Top 25 Countdown, we feature some of the hottest high school players in the nation as well as some emerging stars.

Jaden McDaniels & Cole Anthony Headline SLAM Top 25 Countdown! @Jmcdaniels7 @The_ColeAnthony

: https://t.co/HwJrxSzBs4 pic.twitter.com/JKCqPZ5SEy

— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) December 19, 2018

LaMelo Ball, Jalen Green and Noah Farrakhan recently headlined our SLAM Top 10 Plays of the Week.

The post Jalen Lecque, Jalen Green & More! 😱 Insane SLAM Top 25 Countdown! 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

The post Oak Hill & Cole Anthony CRUISE in City of Palms Opener! 🌴 appeared first on SLAM.

The Warriors were taking turns trying to see who caught the nastiest body. Who do you think had the best poster dunk?

The post Cole Anthony & Oak Hill BODY COUNT Rises! 😱💀 appeared first on SLAM.

Last month, Anthony and Oak Hill went to battle against Moravian Prep at the Carmel Classic Tip-Off Classic Tournament.

The post Cole Anthony & Oak Hill Continue Their Dominance! 😈 Are They the #1 HS Team? appeared first on SLAM.

Behind junior Cam Thomas‘ 30 points and Anthony’s 18, Oak Hill rallied from behind before winning in overtime, 92-85.

Cole Anthony & Oak Hill Get Tested in HEATED Matchup!

: https://t.co/yzhWyMQIGD pic.twitter.com/YUUYlnP5RN

— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) November 11, 2018

RELATED:
Oak Hill Puts Up 103 POINTS Without Cole Anthony | SLAM Highlights

The post Cole Anthony & Oak Hill Get Tested in HEATED Matchup! 😤 | SLAM Highlights appeared first on SLAM.

Junior guard Cam Thomas led the way with 35 points while senior center Kofi Cockburn had 22 points and 13 boards.

Oak Hill’s shooter Cam Thomas caught FIRE tonight in route to 35! @24_camthomas pic.twitter.com/hHOjl0WAfE

— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) November 10, 2018

RELATED:
Cole Anthony & Oak Hill Get Tested in HEATED Matchup! | SLAM Highlights

The post Oak Hill Puts Up 103 POINTS Without Cole Anthony 😱 | SLAM Highlights appeared first on SLAM.

Big man Kofi Cockburn dominated the paint for the Warriors, and junior shooting guard Cameron Thomas contributed consistent scoring throughout the contest.

SWATTED

Cole Anthony and Cam Thomas are menaces on both ends of the floor pic.twitter.com/6wBLl8kWjn

— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) October 27, 2018

RELATED:
Cole Anthony and Oak Hill win HEATED matchup with Hargrave!

The post Oak Hill and Cole Anthony Serve Up a SIXTY PIECE! appeared first on SLAM.

The senior hasn’t committed to a college yet, but Anthony recently released a list of 12 finalists that includes Duke, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Villanova and Wake Forest.

Here’s Anthony in his Oak Hill debut:

RELATED:
High School Point Guard Cole Anthony Runs New York

The post Cole Anthony and Oak Hill win HEATED matchup with Hargrave! appeared first on SLAM.

RELATED
Under Armour Curry 3ZER0 II Revealed

The post The Nation’s Best HS Hoopers Put in Work at Stephen Curry’s Camp 🍿 appeared first on SLAM.

Peep all three cover stories at the links below, stay posted for more fire content from the mag over the next few weeks, and head to your local newsstand or order a copy here!

Photos via Rayon Richards, Sara Rubenstein and Getty. 

RELATED
Recognize the Absurd GREATNESS of Maya Moore
COLE SUMMER: High School Point Guard Cole Anthony Runs New York
All the Ways the Warriors Dynasty Could Be Brought to an End

The post SLAM 217 Is On Sale Now! 🙌 appeared first on SLAM.

—

Lew Alcindor
Long before he became Kareem, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Lew Alcindor was leading Power Memorial Academy to three straight Catholic High School titles from 1963-1965. He brought national media attention to the west side of Manhattan, beating up on defenses with an unstoppable offensive arsenal.

Rafer Alston
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens, was Rafer Alston’s launching point for an incredible career that evolved from the AND1 Mixtape Tour all the way to the 2009 NBA Finals. Alston was a pioneer, coming up with brand new passes and dribbling combos that influenced a generation.

Kenny Anderson
Kenny Anderson was named All-City four times while starring at Archbishop Molloy in Queens. Chibbs went on to bring his lightning-quick handles across the Hudson River to the New Jersey Nets, eventually becoming a member of the ’94 NBA All-Star team.

Cole Anthony
Cole Anthony can fly. The 6-2 Archbishop Molloy point guard has NYC jumping again. Anthony, son of former Knick Greg Anthony, is a five-star recruit in the Class of 2019 and has only just begun what promises to be a crazy career.

Tiny Archibald
Tiny Archibald was an offensive machine who could slice up any defense. Starting at DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx, Tiny carved out a legendary career that saw him dominate the Rucker and the NBA, where he’s the only player to lead the League in points and assists in the same season.

Ron Artest
Ron Artest’s game took him from QB to L.A., displaying off-the-charts defensive IQ, strength and passion. While starring at LaSalle Academy in Manhattan, Artest was also hooping on the same AAU squad as Elton Brand and Lamar Odom.

Andre Barrett
Rice HS in Harlem was popping in the late ’90s because of floor general Andre Barrett. He also lit up Gauchos and Rucker en route to four years at Seton Hall and a long list of NBA and overseas squads.

Walter Berry
The original “Truth,” Walter Berry was a born star. He started at Benjamin Franklin HS in Manhattan and then helped St. John’s in Queens get to the ’85 Final Four. He went on to average 14 points per game in three NBA seasons and then played in Europe for over a decade.

Roger Brown
There haven’t been many scorers like Roger Brown. No one in the city could hold the Brooklyn native. He hit Connie Hawkins for 37 points in a high school playoff game in 1960 and he was the Pacers’ catalyst for three ABA championships in the ’70s.

Steve Burtt Sr
Steve Burtt Sr made it from Harlem to the League for stints with the Warriors, Clippers, Suns and Bullets. The 6-2 guard was a fiery competitor with a desire to win that had NYC written all over it.

Billy Cunningham
Billy Cunningham, aka The Kangaroo Kid, led Erasmus Hall to the ’61 City chip and never looked back. The Kid went from Brooklyn to the University of North Carolina to the Philadelphia 76ers. He made five All-Star teams, was a member of the ’67 Philly title team and then was the 76ers’ coach when they won it all in ’83.

Lloyd Daniels
Lloyd Daniels was a multi-dimensional player with eyes in the back of his head and a pure shooting stroke. The 6-7 forward faced some troubling times but still managed to make it from Jackson High School in Queens to the pros, playing with the Spurs, Lakers, Nets, Raptors, Sixers and Kings.

Tyron “Alimoe” Evans
At 6-8, with a dangerous handle and an ill fury for winning, Alimoe’s skill was complemented by a fire crafted in Harlem’s playgrounds. He was one of the first AND1 mixtape stars. He passed away in ’13; we lost him way, way too soon.

Lloyd B. Free
As a star at Canarsie High in Brooklyn, Lloyd B. Free went undefeated in his senior year. He was so good that old heads around the neighborhood called him “All World.” So he legally changed his name to World in 1981. He’d wrap up his 13-year NBA career with an average of 20 points per game.

Sidney Green
After playing at Thomas Jefferson in Brooklyn, 6-9 forward Sidney Green played with the Runnin’ Rebels for four years. He was an NCAA All-American and had a nine-year NBA career as a defensive-minded rebounding specialist.

Joe Hammond
“The Destroyer” was widely regarded as Harlem’s best player in the ’60s. His scoring outputs have been passed down like legends—some say he gave Julius Erving a 50-piece with a side of fries. In one half.

Connie Hawkins
“The Hawk” was All-City at Boys High in Brooklyn and he was all-nightmare at Rucker, too. Even as a teenager, Connie Hawkins was a mismatch for everyone. The 6-8 forward played with the Globetrotters in the American Basketball League, then in the ABA and finally the NBA, where he averaged 20 points per game with the Suns.

Anthony “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Heyward
Anthony Heyward was AND1’s go-to leader, an old soul with tons of basketball IQ. Heyward grew up in Bed-Stuy, forming an all-around game that featured elite playmaking and intensity. He’s still hooping today, into his late 40s.

Jackie Jackson
Multiple players from the ’60s have confirmed that “Jumpin” Jackie Jackson, at just 6-4, could actually touch the top of the backboard. Jackson played at Boys High in Brooklyn with Connie Hawkins and was a staple at the Rucker, where he once grabbed Wilt Chamberlain’s shot right out of the air.

Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson’s basketball career took him to three of the city’s boroughs—he was a beast at Bishop Loughlin in Brooklyn, became the all-time assists leader at St. John’s in Queens and then won Rookie of the Year with the Knicks in 1988.

Charles Jones
Charles Jones made a name for himself at Soul in the Hole in Brooklyn. The 6-3 guard was about his buckets, averaging 30 points per game while playing his junior year at LIU.

Kevin Joyce
Kevin Joyce brought a workman’s mentality to the game, hustling and clawing as much as he could. He averaged 33 points and 18 rebounds a game as a senior at Molloy in Queens and went on to play for Team USA in the 1972 Olympics.

Albert King
There wasn’t anything Albert King couldn’t do as a senior at Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn. The 6-6 forward had a complete skill set, a certified two-way player. In his second year with the Nets, the ’82-83 season, King averaged around 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game.

Bernard King
Bernard King was a once-in-a-generation scorer. The Brooklyn boy turned childhood dreams into reality when he became Madison Square Garden’s prime attraction. He averaged 32.9 points per game in ’84-85 to win the League’s scoring title.

Pee Wee Kirkland
Pee Wee says he invented the modern crossover, and he might be right. Kirkland was one of the game’s earliest characters, nasty as a muhh on the court, talking all types of trash, pulling up to Rucker in a Rolls. He was a legend in two games, too—if you know, you know.

Herman “Helicopter” Knowings
Herman “Helicopter” Knowings stood 6-4, built like a house. He had stupid bounce but he was special because he would levitate in the air, chilling up there like a chopper before he eventually decided to dunk on someone.

Doron Lamb
Lower East Side native Doron Lamb started his high school career at Bishop Loughlin in Brooklyn. He put up 22 a game as a sophomore, catching the eye of Oak Hill Academy. He left New York to finish high school, finding his way to Kentucky as a collegian. He won a National Championship in 2012.

Sylven Landesberg
Sylven Landesberg racked up the awards in high school. Before he left Holy Cross, he was named Mr. Basketball in New York in 2008, was named a McDonald’s All-American and left the prep level with averages of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists per game.

Felipe Lopez
Felipe Lopez had St. John’s in the center of the universe for a second. The Rice HS grad came over from the DR when he was 14. It wasn’t long before he was an All-American, first-team All-Big East and a first-round draft pick.

Earl Manigault
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said Earl Manigault was the best ballplayer he’d ever seen. Full stop. That’s really all you need to know about the Goat, along with the fact that after he was done playing, he recovered from a drug addiction to help youth all around New York live a clean and healthy life. Rest in Power, Earl.

Jamal Mashburn
Mash was a staple at Gauchos during his childhood. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School after winning the school’s first CHSAA chip in nearly 50 years. He was a walking mismatch as a Kentucky Wildcat and during his 11 years in the League.

Anthony Mason
Mase was the soul of the 90s Knicks. The Queens native was a key part of the Knicks’ run to the ’94 Finals and he won the Sixth Man of the Year award in ’95. He was everyone’s favorite player, combining grit and passion with a seemingly never-ending supply of joy.

Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury once said that whenever he played he was “always trying to break ankles.” The Coney Island product brought a crazy set of handles, quickness and imagination with him to the hardwood or the asphalt.

Dean Meminger
Dean Meminger was on the Knicks’ 1973 championship squad. Years before that, though, the Harlem-raised guard was making a name for himself at the courts on 135th Street, which was followed by a starring role at Rice High School.

Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin might be the best shooter to ever come out of New York. The lefty from Brooklyn had a chopper. Midrange, three-pointers, catch-and-shoot, off-the-dribble—it didn’t matter, his shot was singing. Mully started in BK, then was the face of St. John’s; he later played for the legendary ’92 Dream Team.

Lamar Odom
He didn’t even move like other players. Lamar Odom would bounce down the court, long-ass arms dribbling the ball, surveying everything. Then he’d strike real quick, with a pinpoint pass or a quick move to the left side of the rim for a bucket.

Smush Parker
The Cage was Smush Parker’s spot. He was so good down at the West 4th Street courts, such a park legend, that he earned his way to the League as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shamorie Ponds
Shamorie Ponds racked up a long list of accomplishments at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn before signing on with the Johnnies in Queens. The 6-1 lefty put up nearly 22 points a game for the Red Storm as a sophomore and had the Garden on tilt when he took down the Blue Devils with 33 points this past February.

Kareem Reid
Kareem Reid led St. Ray’s in the Bronx to the city and state titles as a junior back in ’93 and repeated as a city champ the very next season. He went on to play at Arkansas but he was most famous as a member of Fat Joe’s Terror Squad, where he was nicknamed “The Best Kept Secret.”

John Roche
A 6-0 guard with real toughness, Manhattan native John Roche was the consummate floor general. He got his start at LaSalle Academy in NYC and went on to play in the ABA and the NBA.

Kenny Satterfield
Kenny Satterfield found his way to the League, playing with the Nuggets and the Sixers, but he’s most well known for imposing his will at parks around the city. He established himself as a versatile and clutch scorer, whether it was outdoors or at Rice HS.

Malik Sealy
At 6-8, Malik Sealy could do a lot on the court. He had flash to his game, capturing fans’ hearts as a player at St. John’s. But we lost Sealy to a car accident in May 2000, robbing us of more brilliance from the Bronx native.

Phil Sellers
Brooklyn native Phil Sellers had just about every college coach in the nation fawning over him in the early ’70s. Sellers was an All-American as a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School and then he was a problem at Rutgers, putting up 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.

God Shammgod
He invented a mythical move, a dribble combo that’s universally regarded as the game’s most disrespectful crossover. God Shammgod was at the park every day, perfecting his move, taking it on the road with him to Providence College and later the Washington Wizards.

Russ Smith
Everywhere he suited up, Russ Smith was an automatic bucket. He led the city in scoring during his junior and senior seasons at Archbishop Molloy and then was the Louisville Cardinals’ leading scorer during their run to the 2014 National Championship. Now he delivers a constant stream of points in the CBA.

Rod Strickland
Rod Strickland was nice. His layup package was filthy, and it directly influenced his godson, a kid named Kyrie Irving. The Bronx native lit up Gauchos as a youth and led Truman High to a state title. Strickland went on to have a productive 17-year career in the NBA.

Kenny Smith
Lefrak City, Queens, was where Kenny Smith got his start. Archbishop Molloy is where he made his name and earned a ride to the University of North Carolina. He started out as an athlete, capable of pulling off some nasty dunks, but evolved into a knockdown shooter on the Rockets’ title teams in ’94 and ’95.

Lance Stephenson
Lance Stephenson started playing against pros when he was 13, touring the city’s parks, and his nickname “Born Ready” was a reflection of his game. The ultimate bruiser, there was no one who could stay in front of him. Well ahead of playing for the Pacers, Stephenson led Lincoln High School to four straight city chips.

Sebastian Telfair
The million-dollar smile, the speed-of-light handle, the ready-made superstar personality. Sebastian Telfair’s career at Lincoln made him a legend. He was boys with LeBron James, regularly dapped up Jay-Z and carried Lincoln to three city titles and one state chip.

Jamel Thomas
Jamel Thomas’ impact on the game goes beyond the court. Sure, he was a monster at Lincoln High School and then at Providence College. But the 6-6 guard also mentored his younger brother, Sebastian Telfair, as well as a long list of kids around the city.

Jamaal Tinsley
Jamaal Tinsley was the textbook New York City point guard. Tight handle, layup master, excellent passer. They used to call him “Mel the Abuser” up at the Rucker. The Brooklyn native’s NBA career lasted from 2001-2014.

Kemba Walker
Speed like Kemba Walker’s doesn’t come around that often. His feet move faster than just about anyone else in the NBA and his hesi has made countless opponents touch Earth. He honed his handle in the Bronx and brought it to UConn, where he led the Huskies all the way to the 2011 Natty.

Dwayne Washington
While playing in Brownsville, Brooklyn as a kid, Dwayne Washington was doing things on the floor that were reminiscent of Earl the Pearl Monroe. And that’s where Washington got his nickname. The 6-2 guard was a star at Boys High and he was a star at Syracuse, too. Sadly, Pearl passed in 2016 at the age of 52.

Isaiah Washington
Numbers aside, Isaiah Washington ignited the city with the Jelly Fam movement, and kids in every borough (and worldwide) still imitate his signature layup. The Harlem native went on a basketball expedition during his high school years, bringing the Jelly to as many people as possible and garnering a city’s worth of adoring fans.

Isaiah Whitehead
The latest in the long line of successful Lincoln Railsplitters, Isaiah Whitehead became a beast at Seton Hall. He was hitting pull-up threes, running the show, bullying his way to the basket, leading the Pirates to the 2016 Big East title. He then became the first BK native to play for the Brooklyn Nets.

Brian Winters
Brian Winters played in the League for nine seasons, holding a career average of 16 points per game and making two All-Star squads. He started his basketball journey at Archbishop Molloy in Queens, played for the Lakers and the Bucks, and then went on to coach across the collegiate level, the WNBA and the NBA.

Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens is in the Naismith Hall of Fame as a player and a coach. That’s elite. His roots are in Bed-Stuy, where he came up through Boys High and then Providence College. Wilkens played in the League for 15 years and then coached for another 36 years.

Corey Williams
Ron Artest won NBA DPOY in 2003-04—and Corey “Homicide” Williams gave him 26 points in a game that summer, beating the team that Artest was playing on, even catching a dunk on him. Williams, a long-time overseas pro, tore up summer leagues across the city in the 2000s.

James “Fly” Williams
Fly Williams was the definition of a walking bucket. From the Rucker to Soul in the Hole, the Brownsville native scored at will. Fifty-point games were expected every time out.

Sam Worthen
At 6-5, Sam Worthen’s career at the Rucker was highlighted by his combination of superior ballhandling and passing. He made it to the League in 1980, but he only lasted two seasons. The Brooklyn native’s park legacy was already cemented by that point, though.

—

Max Resetar is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. 

Rafer Alston portrait by Michael Schreiber; Cole Anthony portrait by Rayon Richards; Photos via Getty.

The post The Top 60 Hoopers to Come Out of NEW YORK CITY 🗽 appeared first on SLAM.

Having the film set in The Big Apple was fitting, as the city had become touted for producing prep talent on a regular basis—particularly at the point guard position.

Before Marbury, NYC birthed greats like Bob Cousy, Pearl Washington, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Kenny Anderson, Kenny Smith, Lenny Wilkens and Mark Jackson. He Got Game simply served as another reminder that New York was at the top of the food chain when it came to talent. Yet the past couple of decades were a different story.

The city became the subject of multiple “What went wrong?” articles that tried to examine why the five boroughs no longer put out top recruits, specifically point guards, in the manner it was known for just a couple of decades prior.

The last few years, though, have brought a sense that the city was on the verge of a renaissance. The Class of 2017 featured three hoopers from New York City who were ranked among the top 100 seniors in the country: Mohamed Bamba, Hamidou Diallo and Isaiah Washington.

Bamba, the No. 6 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and Washington, recognized as the mastermind behind the recent Jelly Fam movement, both helped bring a buzz back to the city. But this year it seems to have reached a new level thanks to a rising senior named Cole Anthony.

The Class of 2019 prospect is the first NYC player since Marbury to be ranked as the No. 1 point guard in the country. And just like the former Lincoln High star, Anthony also stands at 6-2 and is known for his tenacity and assertiveness.

“It’s just really an honor to be able to have this title. New York has been on a little drought recently, but it’s really a blessing to be in this position,” Cole says.

“I think the message is that basketball in New York City isn’t dead the way a lot of people think it is. I think it’s very much alive,” he adds of his hometown, which also has two other players ranked among the top 15 prospects in the Class of 2019: Jalen Lecque and Precious Achiuwa. “I think this class is a really special class. There are a lot of kids from New York that are highly touted. It’s special for New York. We definitely have a lot of kids now that are representing the city the right way.”

Cole is the son of former NBA guard and current Turner Sports television analyst Greg Anthony. For the past three years, Cole has starred at Archbishop Molloy High School, which also counts legends like Smith and Anderson among its alums.

Greg vividly remembers the day his son walked up to him to have “the talk,” an exchange in which his 12-year-old son had made a decision that would ultimately alter his adult life. He was looking to get his dad’s input before plunging into it.

“The first time he told me he wanted to take [basketball] serious, we were in a little league baseball game,” Greg recalls. “He had just finished fifth grade and was getting ready for sixth grade. He was playing baseball at the time. He had a good game and I’m there, excited and thinking, Well, maybe it’ll be baseball. At the time, he hadn’t really shown an affinity or any real ability in basketball. He came to me after the game and said, ‘Dad, I just want to tell you that I just want to concentrate on basketball. I don’t really want to play any other sports.’ It was a bit of a shock because at that time, he wasn’t really that good at basketball.”

Despite the absence of skills or talent on the hardwood at the time, Cole’s decision that summer would become the start of a run that has already made its mark in the history books of New York basketball.

Adds Greg, “I said to him that day, OK, if that’s what you want to do, these are the things that we’re going to have to do for you to get better. And I think it was when he took ownership at that moment that he started to get better as a basketball player. He started playing it more and his single-minded focus was just on playing basketball.”

“It’s just a blessing to have someone like him as a resource in my life,” says Cole of his dad. “It’s something that not many people have. He’s so knowledgeable of the game. The experience he has—just being able to acquire that knowledge from someone that lived my dream is huge.”

Cole has been in the varsity team’s starting lineup since his freshman year, and it didn’t take long for the buzz surrounding his game to reach the national stage. The same goes for his time on the AAU circuit, where he’s played and started on the 17U level since the summer after his freshman season. Hooping for the PSA Cardinals who play on the Nike EYBL circuit, Anthony shined alongside Bamba, Kentucky guard Quade Green, Arizona guard Brandon Randolph and St. Louis wing Hasahn French that first year.

“His basketball IQ has always been two years ahead of the rest of his class,” says Terrance “Munch” Williams, coach and executive director of the PSA Cardinals. “Right now, his mind, because of the resources he’s had with his mom and dad, he’s basically a freshman in college from a basketball IQ standpoint. That’s why the game is so slow for him.”

Adds Cole: “I’m just going to keep trying to elevate my game in every aspect. I see myself as a two-way player who can do everything. I’m a scoring guard who can do it all. I can get my teammates involved. I can shoot it. I can score from all three levels.”

While Cole’s status as the top PG in the Class of 2019 was pretty much cemented this past season, his performance on the EYBL circuit with PSA this spring has placed him in a different conversation. He averaged 26.9 points per game through the four weekend sessions, while in one stretch finishing with 30+ points in five consecutive games. Cole ended up being the leading scorer within the EYBL—touted as the toughest grassroots league in the world—while also leading the league in free throws made. And no, he isn’t just offense. Last year he was named the EYBL’s defensive player of the year.

“Cole started on that [PSA] team [in 2016] and averaged double digits, which is unheard of as a freshman in the EYBL on that type of team. Eventually he can look back in three-four years and say that he produced on a team that had a bunch of NBA players as a freshman,” says Munch, who’s also had New Orleans Pelicans forward Cheick Diallo and Washington Wizards forward Chris McCullough come out of his program in recent years. “Last year [Cole] was the defensive player of the year. This year he’s the offensive player of the year. Him considering himself a two-way player—that’s been proven in how he’s been able to affect the game in multiple ways.”

Cole was also his team’s leading rebounder with 7.6 boards per night, while leading the Cardinals in assists (3.5 dimes) as well.

Greg—who starred at UNLV, was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, and went on to have an 11-year career in the League that included stops with the New York Knicks, Vancouver Grizzlies, Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks—is well aware of what a journey to the League entails. And part of understanding the landscape is knowing the proper mental approach just as much as the ever-necessary work ethic and skill development. Therefore, while his son’s name has steadily risen up the charts, the focus has remained on controlling what can be controlled.

“My goal, once he showed that he had a chance to be a good basketball player, was for me to become Cole Anthony’s dad as opposed to Cole Anthony being my son,” says Greg. “But what we really try to do is stay in the moment. We don’t really think that far out in the future. We don’t talk about tomorrow a lot. We really just try to talk about today. That’s our philosophy and approach. It’s hard when you’re a kid in this world with all the distractions, especially for high school kids—they get so much attention—it’s hard to be able to just stay in the moment. I give him a lot of credit. He’s actually been really good at it, much better than I ever would have in the same situation.”

Cole’s performance this spring has brought him into contention for the top spot in his class regardless of position, with talk of him overtaking the No. 1 spot gaining traction as the summer progresses. And that’s one topic he doesn’t shy away from.

“Being the No. 1 point guard in the country means a lot to me, but honestly at this point, my goals are beyond that,” says Cole. “My goal is to be the No. 1 player in the country.”

—

Franklyn Calle is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7. 

Photos by Rayon Richards.

The post COLE SUMMER: High School Point Guard Cole Anthony Runs New York🗽 appeared first on SLAM.

The No. 1 guard in the Class of 2019, Anthony averaged 30 points during the first session of Nike EYBL and is set for another showing this weekend in Indianapolis.

The post Cole Anthony Averages 30 Points at Nike EYBL Session 1 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

This season the Stanners have two five-star recruits in its starting line-up. Moses Brown, a top-20 prospect in the Class of 2018, and Cole Anthony, a top-5 recruit in the Class of 2019, are one of the best duos in all of high school basketball.

Brown, a 7-1 center, has a plethora of top collegiate programs vying for his services. Meanwhile, Anthony, a 6-1 junior and son of former NBA player and current TV analyst Greg Anthony, is ranked as the No. 1 PG in the Class of 2020.

Molloy will be partaking in the upcoming City of Palms Classic next week in Fort Myers, FL. Their first game is against University School (FL) on Tuesday, December 19 at 7pm.

FloHoops will be live streaming all games. To catch Cole, Moses and Molloy, as well as other top recruits, be sure to go here next week.

The post Cole Anthony & Moses Brown Are The Best Duo In HS Basketball appeared first on SLAM.

Cole Anthony, son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, is a top-5 recruit in the Class of 2019 and the No. 1 PG in that group. The 6-1 junior at Archbishop Molloy HS, which also counts Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson and Russ Smith as alumni, is highly touted for his explosiveness, agility and scoring prowess.

We put together a highlight mixtape of his most recent game this past weekend against Neumann-Goretti HS at the PSA Prep Showcase in Pennsylvania.

The post Cole Anthony Is The No. 1 PG In The Class Of 2019 appeared first on SLAM.

In addition to featuring high school blue chippers, the camp will also host a smaller group of college players, which includes the No. 1 touted freshman Michael Porter Jr.

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The top pick in the ’76 Draft and currently Rockets player development coach has been through it all. His personal struggles are well known and now, his goal in life is to try to make sure that those involved with the game don’t follow down the path that led him fighting an uphill battle for redemption. Comprised of various high school scouts, the NBA Top 100 selection committee jets throughout the country during the year looking for not just the elite but also the sleepers who have long term NBA potential and are still not getting the love they deserve.

Led by guys like Ricky Davis, Jason Terry, and Rajon Rondo, the high school campers were given some guidance on what to do (and what not to do) if they hope to have a successful career in the League. The NBA counselors keep it brutally real with the campers, regaling stories of struggles both in their personal lives and dealing with coaches on the court. Keeping the effort level right, lead guards such as Jason Terry, Will Bynum, and John Lucas III showed their leadership by bringing up the intensity during the games. The inspired play and super deep talent pool led to numbers that were widely dispersed across the board, but still served as a platform for a number of players to seriously rise their stock.

While the camp was loaded with rising seniors, there were a number of elite underclassmen who were invited to the camp. Here are a few of the ones who put on a show:

Matthew Hurt, 6-9 PF, Rochester John Marshall (MN), 2019

One of the most skilled forwards in his grade, Matthew Hurt is the epitome of today’s new age face-up forward. He showed range out to the NBA line, can take slower defenders off the bounce, and has the moves to post smaller defenders. The versatility that he offers on the offensive end is what makes him Minnesota’s top big man, as well as one of the very best nationally in the Class of 2019. With his brother Michael already playing for the Golden Gophers, many expect Matthew to follow his big bro’s footsteps and become a program changer for Richard Pitino.

Cassius Stanley, 6-5, PG/SG, Harvard Westlake (CA), 2019

While the aerial magic that Cassius Stanley brings to the table is well known, not many understand the improvements he’s made as a point guard. He’s learned how to play pick and roll basketball, showing off his explosive burst and making solid decisions with the ball in his hands. Add in the fact that he straight up put the clamps on people at either guard spot and you understand why Stanley was arguably the best guard at the Top 100 Camp.

Cole Anthony, 6-3, PG, Archbishop Molloy (NY), 2019 

It was clear that Cole Anthony came to Charlottesville with a chip on his shoulder and he definitely proved how deadly he could be as a scoring point guard. The explosive guard has a number of acrobatic takes to the rim, made great reads off of ball screens, and seemed hyped for any big matchup that was put in front of him. Finishing 7th in the camp in scoring and 4th in assists, it’s safe to say that Anthony cemented himself amongst the nation’s top lead guards, regardless of class.

Ashton Hagans, 6-4, PG, Oak Hill Academy (VA), 2019

As far as blowing up, not too many have exploded the way that Ashton Hagans has this spring. The 6-4 lead guard ran the show for Game Elite’s 17U on the adidas Gauntlet and killed. He didn’t light it up in the scoring column, but led the camp in both assists and steals. The big point guard controlled the tempo of the game, locked down on defense, and showed immense growth running a team since we first saw him over a year ago. Hagans is now regarded by some services as the top point guard in the Class of 2019 and literally has just about every elite program in the country fighting for his services.

Patrick McCaffery, 6-8, SF, Iowa City West (IA), 2019

Another new age forward, Patrick McCaffery is still flying a little under the radar because everyone assumes that he’s automatically going to play for his Pops at Iowa. While that is likely the case, he’s not as sexy of a prospect for recruiting analysts as the dude who just blew up and got four ACC offers. Regardless, he can straight up ball with the best of them. Having hit a late growth spurt, Patrick has the skills of a guard and the size of a forward. The deceptive athlete is remarkably agile, can shoot the lights out from deep, and is a threat to dunk on you in transition (as seen by his final play at camp). While Patrick definitely needs to get stronger, he’s got all of the makings of a five star prospect.

Tyrese Maxey, 6-3, PG/SG, South Garland HS (TX), 2019

A player who continually gets better, Maxey has stood out at every event that we’ve caught glimpse of him at (others being Pangos All-South and EYBL LA). The power guard is incredibly shifty, had a number of creative finishes at the rack, and locked down on the perimeter. Maxey is already a high priority of the entire Big 12 and is on the way to being the next McDonald’s All-American out of Dallas.

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The young fella might be bound for the League as well, given his insane handles and surprising bounce. Peep his highlights from the 2017 Pangos All-American Camp above via Ballislife.

The potential is scary. Stay glued to SLAM for more updates.

Related
Cole Anthony Earns Most Outstanding Player Award at the 2017 Pangos All-American Camp
WATCH: Greg Anthony’s 10th Grade Son, Cole, Is Up Next In NYC

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The post Cole Anthony Earns Most Outstanding Player Award at the 2017 Pangos All-American Camp appeared first on SLAM.

The post WATCH: Greg Anthony’s 10th Grade Son, Cole, Is Up Next In NYC appeared first on SLAM.