UNC Basketball: Sports Illustrated has high praise for Tar Heels’ freshman

UNC Basketball freshman Cole Anthony has already received some national praise and another outlet now considers him one of the best players in the country

With the calendar getting ready to flip to November, that means the return of college basketball is upon us.

After losing five of their top six scorers from a year ago, Roy Williams and his staff have added to this roster in the form of a very impressive freshman class as well as landing two graduate transfers in the offseason. The highlight of that class is five-star point guard Cole Anthony, who was ranked as one of the best freshman in the country for the 2020 class.

Anthony will come in and start right away at point guard for the Tar Heels and fans will love his skill-set that he brings to Chapel Hill.

While most UNC fans have seen highlights of Anthony and sort of know what to expect this season, the rest of the nation will get their chance to see soon. As we prepare for the start of the season, Anthony once again earned some national praise.

Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo & Molly Geary wrote on their top players for the upcoming college basketball season, listing the Top 50. The Tar Heels had just one player on that list but he was pretty damn high.

The duo ranked Anthony No. 2 overall among the top college basketball players in the country behind only point guard Cassius Winston of Michigan State. Here’s what they had to say about Anthony:

"Anthony arrives in Chapel Hill as the most college-ready freshman in the country, with a polished offensive game and big-time scoring ability. He joins an overhauled Tar Heels team that will need him to shoulder a heavy possession count. He excels driving downhill and attacking the paint, but can also get hot quickly from distance. Anthony’s explosiveness, strength, and mature frame will set him apart at the college level and enable him to help Carolina on both ends of the floor. Expect big counting stats, some memorable performances, and immediate results."

That’s some pretty high praise for a freshman right off the bat but Anthony should prove them right. He’s going to be very, very good for the Tar Heels this season and should be a candidate for the top overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

With Anthony likely being in Chapel Hill for just one season, UNC fans should cherish this upcoming year.

For more on Anthony and the rest of the UNC Basketball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.