Cole Anthony facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cole Anthony

Anthony with Orlando Magic in 2021
No. 50 – Orlando Magic
Point guard / Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(2000-05-15) May 15, 2000 (age 25) Portland, Oregon, U.S.
High school	Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood, New York) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College	North Carolina (2019–2020)
NBA Draft	2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Pro career	2020–present
League	NBA
Career history
2020–present	Orlando Magic
Career highlights and awards
Third-team All-ACC (2020) ACC All-Freshman Team (2020) McDonald's All-American Game MVP (2019)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States FIBA Americas U18 Championship Gold 2018 Canada National team

Cole Hinton Anthony (born May 15, 2000) is a talented American professional basketball player. He plays for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Cole is a point guard, which means he helps lead his team's offense.

Cole's father, Greg Anthony, also played in the NBA for 11 seasons. Cole grew up in Manhattan, New York. He went to Archbishop Molloy High School and then Oak Hill Academy. Experts thought he was one of the best point guards in his class.

As a senior in high school, Cole won MVP (Most Valuable Player) awards. He was named MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit. In college, he played for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

In 2018, Cole helped the United States win a gold medal. This was at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.

Early Life and Basketball Start

Cole Anthony was born in Portland, Oregon. His dad, Greg Anthony, was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers at the time. When Cole was a toddler, his family moved to Manhattan, New York.

Even though his family was well-off, Cole's parents taught him to work hard. Cole said, "They don't hand anything to me in life. What they do hand to me is knowledge."

Cole first played baseball, but by fifth grade, he chose to focus on basketball. He worked with special trainers and played against older kids. When he was 11, Cole was in a Nickelodeon documentary film called Little Ballers. His mom, Crystal McCrary, directed the film. It showed Cole's youth basketball team, New Heights.

High School Basketball Journey

Cole played his first three years of high school basketball at Archbishop Molloy High School in New York. He was the first freshman to start as point guard for Molloy. Other coaches called him the best point guard they had seen at his age.

As a sophomore, Cole led Molloy to the city championship finals. He averaged 20.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. He also played for the PSA Cardinals, a top amateur team.

In his junior year, Cole and teammate Moses Brown were a strong duo. Cole averaged 23.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He won the MVP award with the PSA Cardinals in 2018.

For his senior year, Cole moved to Oak Hill Academy. This school is famous for its basketball program. Cole became the first player in school history to average a triple-double. This means he averaged double-digits in points, rebounds, and assists. He was named Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year.

Becoming a Top Recruit

Cole Anthony was one of the most wanted players in the 2019 class. On April 23, 2019, he chose to play college basketball for North Carolina. Other top schools wanted him too. By the end of high school, he was seen as a top-five player and the number one point guard in his class.

College Basketball at North Carolina

Anthony sits on the North Carolina bench with a knee injury in January 2020.

On November 6, 2019, Cole played his first college game for North Carolina. He scored 34 points, had 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. This was a new record for points by a freshman in their first game for North Carolina. He also set a record for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Cole was named ACC Player and Freshman of the Week. He was the first freshman in North Carolina history to score at least 20 points in his first three games.

In December, Cole had surgery for a knee injury. He missed about six weeks of games. He returned in February 2020, scoring 26 points in his first game back.

Cole earned third-team All-ACC honors and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. As a freshman, he averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. After his freshman year, Cole decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft.

Professional Career with the Orlando Magic

Cole Anthony was picked by the Orlando Magic as the 15th player in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. He officially signed with the Magic on November 21, 2020.

On January 20, 2021, Cole made a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On May 1, 2021, he scored a career-high 26 points. He also made another game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds left against the Memphis Grizzlies.

On May 16, 2021, Cole became the first Magic rookie to score over 30 points since 2014. He finished his first year with four games scoring 20+ points. He also had two game-winning shots at the buzzer.

In the 2021–22 NBA season, many people thought Cole was a candidate for the Most Improved Player award.

On October 26, 2022, Cole had a muscle injury that kept him out of some games. Later, he was suspended for one game for leaving the bench during a fight.

On October 23, 2023, Cole signed a new three-year contract with the Magic.

Playing for the National Team

Cole Anthony played for the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship. This tournament was in Canada. In the final game, he scored 18 points. The U.S. team won the gold medal against Canada. Cole was named to the all-tournament team.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Personal Life

Anthony with his father, Greg, during the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Cole Anthony is the son of Greg Anthony and Crystal McCrary. His dad, Greg, played in the NBA for 11 seasons. He also works as a basketball analyst and broadcaster. Cole's mom, Crystal, is an author and filmmaker.

Cole's stepfather is Raymond McGuire. He is a banking executive.