UNC Basketball: Cole Anthony staying with Orlando Magic

Former UNC basketball standout Cole Anthony to remain in Orlando after Magic pick up third-year option

Point guard Cole Anthony will remain with the Orlando Magic for at least two more seasons following the team’s decision to pick up his third-year option on Tuesday.

Now, Anthony, who averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game as a rookie, will be alongside fellow second-year point guard R.J. Hampton for the foreseeable future, as the latter also had his third-year option picked up by the Magic organization this week.

Despite missing 25 games last season due to a rib injury, Anthony led the Magic in assists on a team-best 18 occasions. He also led the team in scoring six times, and notched at least 20 points in a game four times — three of which came in the season’s final month. He finished the season on a high note, scoring a career-high 37 points to go along with eight rebounds and two assists against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Perhaps more impressive than that was Anthony’s ability to consistently get better throughout the season. He averaged more points per game in each subsequent month over the course of his freshman campaign in Orlando, showing an ability to adjust and excel at the professional level despite being just 20 years of age and only one year removed from high school.

Anthony had a strong showing in his first preseason action of the 2021-22 season on Monday night, scoring 16 points off the Orlando bench in 22 minutes of play. He hit 6-of-12 shots for the game and 4-of-7 from three-point range while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out six assists in a one-point loss to the Boston Celtics.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Cole Anthony, and UNC basketball alumni throughout the league.