Strengths
Right-handed… Cole is a big-time player at a small-time program at Cleveland State. He's been on our radar for a few years, but really broke out as a rising senior at the Deron Williams Skills Academy. If that didn't catch your attention, scouts have been paying careful attention since his 41-point, 20-rebound explosion in mid-February... He has good size for a 1 at 6'2", but is undersized as a combo-guard… Cole has been much more productive in his senior year, playing nearly the same minutes per game as his junior year, but has upped his numbers across the board to 21.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He possesses an improved basketball IQ and feel for the game and is evidenced by his 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio… With the ball in his hands, Cole changes speeds well and takes what the defense gives him. He is careful in limiting his turnovers and forcing the play. He is at his best running the pick-and-roll when given the option to pass to his cutting big man or turning the corner and taking the ball himself…
Weaknesses
Scouts have been debating all year whether Cole is a true point guard or more of a combo-guard, but at this point, they know that he is a player- he is comfortable scoring the basketball or getting his teammates involved… He spent a tremendous amount of time in the off-season working on his perimeter scoring, but he still has work to put in; he is shooting a career-best 36 percent from 3 this season… His NBA stock is limited by so-so athleticism and elite explosiveness to get to the rim against guards at the next level… Cole struggles to finish around the rim, where his lack of size and leaping ability hurt him in a crowd.
