Former Tar Heel: Cole Anthony and His Grizzlies Home

Cole Anthony made a strong debut for UNC basketball, scoring 34 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against Notre Dame, signaling his arrival in college basketball. However, the 2019-2020 season was cut short by COVID-19 without a postseason, and UNC finished with a disappointing 14-19 record, considered arguably the worst under coach Roy Williams in his 18 years.

Anthony led UNC in scoring with 18.5 points per game, the second-highest average ever for a UNC freshman. He missed 11 games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a partially torn meniscus in his right knee. Despite this, he scored in double figures in 19 of his 22 games, including one 30-point game and eight 20-point games. He led the team in scoring 13 times, in plus/minus (+55), and averaged 5.7 rebounds – the highest in at least 50 years for a UNC point guard. He also made 49 three-pointers and was named ACC Player of the Week once and ACC Freshman of the Week twice.

Following the season, Anthony earned several honors: Third-Team All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman Team, USBWA All-District III, and Basketball Times Second-Team All-Freshman.

Despite the knee injury and UNC's poor team record, Anthony was selected 15th overall (lottery pick) by the Orlando Magic in the NBA Draft. After five seasons with the Magic, he was recently traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Desmond Bane and will now play under coach Taylor Jenkins.

Anthony is the son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, who played for teams including the New York Knicks and the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies.