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UNC Basketball: Cole Anthony ranked among potential ‘stars’ at next level

By Zack Pearson

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 10: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts following a play against the Virginia Tech Hokies during their game in the first round of the 2020 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 10, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 10: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts following a play against the Virginia Tech Hokies during their game in the first round of the 2020 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 10, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC Basketball point guard Cole Anthony has been ranked among the potential stars at the next level in the NBA by CBS Sports.

With the NBA announcing their plans to return with 22 teams participating in the Disney World reset, the league also announced plans for the 2020 NBA Draft.

The season has essentially been pushed back including moving the NBA Draft lottery and the NBA Draft to later in the year. The NBA Draft lottery is set to take place on August 25th and then the NBA Draft on October 15th, just a few days after Game 7 is schedule.

It’s a unique experience right now as the calendar has been shifted and the potential future seasons will also be impacted. However, the draft must go on and the league will welcome in the new class of talented players.

Among them is former North Carolina point guard Cole Anthony. The former five-star guard declared for the NBA Draft back in April after just one season at UNC. Going into the year, Anthony was projected by some to be a top 3 pick in the draft but after an injury-plagued season, his stock may have dropped.

But even with that, there are some that think Anthony can be a potential star.  CBS Sports ranked the eight players that can be potential stars in the NBA in this draft and among them is Anthony at No. 7:

"Anthony was the all-everything initiating presence for an underwhelming North Carolina team short on talent last season, a role that masked his real potential as a spark plug scorer who can catalyze an offense.The Tar Heels product fits the archetype of a score-first lead guard who can capably quarterback an offense, but will really thrive as a scorer in the NBA. Just how prosperous he’ll be in that role, however, is subject to a variety of debate. Some see him as a potential combo guard worthy of a top-10 pick given his scoring upside. Others, as a lethal bench shooter who can add value in a smaller role … and not much else. If he develops into more of the former he could become a star."

CBS Sports also notes that Anthony is ranked No. 14 on their big board, a drop from the initial rankings last Fall.

During his one year at UNC, Anthony showed signs of being a legit point guard that can play in the NBA. The injuries didn’t help his cause and UNC’s struggles of not having a knock down shooter outside of Brandon Robinson also hurt a bit.

But even with that, Anthony put up solid numbers and has a skill set that NBA scouts should love.

Next. UNC meets with 2021 five-star prospect. dark

For more on Anthony and other former UNC Basketball players, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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