Dunbar grad Cole not picky about draft round, team

Posted by Eliza Torr | Posted in Education Sport Minute | Posted on 21-06-2011

Norris Cole has been on a tour of NBA cities for the last month, working out and interviewing with 13 teams.

He’s projected as a possible early second-round pick or late first-round pick in tonight’s draft, but the former Dunbar High School star won’t be dejected if that doesn’t happen.

Just knowing he’s all but certain to land somewhere in the NBA is satisfying enough.

“It’s a surreal feeling,” he said. “(It’s) everything you dreamed about since you were a little kid, and now, hopefully, you can see it’ll turn out right.

“I know I’ll be excited no matter where I go. Just up to this point, I’m excited about it. No matter what round I’m drafted in, I’m going to enjoy it and embrace the opportunity.”

Not many saw Cole as a future pro even a couple of years ago. The 6-foot-2 point guard couldn’t even see it himself.

He signed with NAIA Walsh University before his senior year at Dunbar. But after leading the Wolverines to a second straight state title, Cleveland State came along with a scholarship.

The move was a boon for the Vikings. Cole averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game last season while being named the Horizon League player of the year.

He also created a national sensation with a 41-point, 20-rebound, nine-assist outing against Youngstown State, becoming the first college player to post a 40-20 game since Blake Griffin two years earlier. Along the way, more and more NBA scouts began making the trek to CSU.

How does a one-time Walsh recruit become a possible first-rounder?

“Just being blessed and working hard,” Cole said. “That’s the biggest thing — working hard and being confident in your abilities and not letting the level of basketball define who you are, whether you go Division I, Division II or NAIA. Just know in your mind that you’re going to work hard, and with God’s blessing, it’s going to pay off.”

Cole didn’t view himself as NBA material when he averaged a scant 4.9 points as a freshman with the Vikings, but that changed after lifting his average to 13.3 the next season and leading the team to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

“Between my sophomore and junior year, I started to realize I had the potential to play this game for a living,” he said. “We had a tough schedule, especially my sophomore and junior year going against West Virginia, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Florida State — a lot of the top teams. We fared well. And individually, I fared well in my matchups against (Syracuse’s) Jonny Flynn and (Kentucky’s Eric) Bledsoe and (John) Wall.

“I did pretty good against them. And I said, ‘With some more work and a little more time in the gym and a little more time in the weight room, I have a legitimate chance.’ ”

Cole is ranked the 28th-best prospect by ESPN.com and No. 48 by Draft Express. He’s described glowingly as a complete point guard and lauded for his aggressive mentality.

“I don’t think he’ll be first round, but he’ll be a second-round pick,” said a scout for an NBA Eastern Conference team. “He’s athletic, he takes it to the hole, he can shoot outside. He does a lot of things well.

“He’s got good size for the position. He could be a combo guard. He’s unselfish, gives the ball up. I saw him two or three times and really liked him.”

Oklahoma City brought Cole in for a workout last week, and he ran into fellow Dunbar alum Daequan Cook, who plays for the Thunder.

Asked whether Cook offered advice, Cole said: “He told me keep working hard, don’t get down when things don’t go right, always stay confident in your game and keep a good relationship with the coach.”

That’s worked out well for Cole so far, and he doesn’t see any reason to change now.

2011 NBA draft

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

TV: ESPN

Cavs on the clock: All indications point to Cleveland using the No. 1 overall pick on Duke point guard Kyrie Irving over Arizona forward Derrick Williams.

And the Cavs pick again: Just as interesting will be what Cleveland does with the No. 4 pick. Enes Kanter, a 6-foot-11 Turkish center, is one thought, but Utah might grab him at No. 3. Kanter thinks he should go No. 1: “I believe I am the best player in this draft.”

Rumor mill: The Lakers, who don’t have a first-round pick, tried to move up by offering Lamar Odom to Minnesota for the No. 2 overall pick, but Minnesota wanted Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol.

Best name: Bismack Biyombo, a Congolese big man (6-9, 240) who played in Spain, reminds some of a smaller Dwight Howard (or at least Ben Wallace) and could go No. 8 to the Pistons.

Similar Posts:

Share
Read More
(0) Comments

Write a comment