Returning the Garden to Eden | Maize's Knicks 2.0

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New York Daily News

Knicks Select Cole Anthony with Third Pick | June 25, 2020
The 2020 NBA Draft has Knicks fans excited about adding the next piece to their rebuild. Now, with new ownership in place, a new highly-respected Head Coach in Jay Wright, the franchise seems to be in their best position to succeed in decades.

Holding the third pick in the draft, there were early rumors that the team was shopping the pick looking to add a veteran guard to their backcourt. Instead, they selected North Carolina Point Guard Cole Anthony. The 6'3" guard is the son of former Knick and current NBA analyst, Greg Anthony.

Greg, who was working the draft for NBA TV, was seen visibly emotional after his son was selected early by his former team. Same for his son Cole, who broke down in his interview after being drafted. He said it was a blessing and hopes he gets to wear #2 in New York just like his father.

Later during the draft, Head Coach Jay Wright was interviewed by ESPN about the selection of Anthony. Wright was spending his first draft in years away from the Green Room. In the past, he's been on hand to see his former players get drafted.

Having scouted Anthony in college, Wright said that his game is built for the modern NBA. He's quick and smart, working well with the ball in his bands. He can score from anywhere, not afraid to take contact and get to the rim. Wright received some eyebrows raises after comparing Anthony's game favorably to Damian Lillard.

Anthony played in 24 games for North Carolina, missing the month of January with nagging injuries. He averaged 32 minutes per game, 20 points per game, six rebounds to go along with 3.5 assists. That was all while shooting 34% from deep and averaging 7 free throws per game (shooting 74% from the stripe).

Anthony lived his entire life surrounded by the game of basketball; born in Portland when his father was playing for the Trail Blazers. He focused on playing basketball starting in the fifth grade, at which time he was growing up in New York while his father started his broadcasting career.

In his first three years of high school, he played at Archbishop Molloy in New York. After his sophomore year, he was earning national attention as one of the top players in his class. After his junior year, he transferred to Oak Hill Academy, a nationally recognized program that is consistently ranked in the top of the nation. They have become a basketball factory, sending 35 players to the NBA including Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and numerous McDonald's All Americans.

Cole became the next great player to graduate from Oak Hill; becoming the first player in school history to average a triple double. After the season, he was selected as an All American by USA Today and a McDonald's All American. He was named MVP of three prestigous high school all star games: the McDonald's All-American Game, the Nike Hoops Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic.

He left Oak Hill as a consensus top five player in the country. Choosing to go to North Carolina, his up-and-down single season in college mirrored the struggles of the Tar Heels last season. That bout of adversity fueled Anthony to excel in private workouts and bump up his draft stock.

Anthony now heads for New York where he joins a crowded backcourt of young guards including Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton. It is expected that Anthony will immediately compete to start; already second amongst odds-makers for next year's Rookie of the Year odds.

It seems Jay Wright has found his point guard and team leader, Cole Anthony. He follows in the footsteps of his father, hoping to take the Knicks to the next level.