Chris Brickley, Cole Anthony’s coach since he was 16, was delighted by the purpose guard’s quarantine request.
The Manhattan product requested Brickley if they may scour tape of his underachieving freshman season at North Carolina through Zoom.
It was an ideal studying software through the coronavirus pandemic stopping them from stay coaching.
“We watched the entire UNC season over once more,” mentioned Brickley, former Knicks participant improvement coach from 2013 to 2016. “That was fairly cool. That wasn’t even my thought – to be sincere. I strategy gamers rather a lot about “lets’ do that with mini tasks.’ However he got here to me. It confirmed he’s a pupil of the sport. And he wished to have a look about how he may’ve finished higher from a maturity standpoint.”
Anthony is a projected lottery choose within the June 25 NBA draft – slated wherever from No. 5 to 15 in mock drafts. “I don’t know numerous lottery youngsters that will need to try this with their time,’’ Brickley mentioned. “He realized a ton.”
Brickley is Carmelo Anthony’s longtime coach and now has one other Anthony with Knicks ties to groom. The son of ex-Knick guard Greg Anthony has varied stigmas connected to him after tearing a meniscus in his knee in December.
“My take is you had a UNC group not very sturdy and he was put in a no-win scenario,” Brickley mentioned. “Once I hear he had a foul private season, I shake my head. He ended the season second-leading scoring freshman within the nation.
“He discovered a approach in opposition to defenses that had been geared towards him. He was the one most suitable choice on the group. It wasn’t a simple scenario for him.”
Whereas the knee damage is taken into account a unfavourable to some, Brickley termed it “a pivotal second.” Anthony returned on Feb. 1 after a six-week absence.
“Ninety p.c of projected lottery picks, with the group not doing properly, they’re not going to return again,” Brickley mentioned. “That spoke volumes. He got here again the primary few video games, took prices and sacrificed his physique. It was a testomony to his toughness and the way a lot he cares.”
Brickley began coaching Anthony when he was 16 and taking part in for Archbishop Molloy in Queens. Anthony transferred to basketball manufacturing unit Oak Hill Academy, the place in 2018-19 he averaged a triple double (18.5 factors, 10.2 rebounds, 10.2 assists).
Although he logged UNC numbers of 18.5 factors, 5.7 rebounds and 4 assists per sport, he shot an inefficient 38 p.c. Criticism additionally surfaced about him not being a ok playmaker who makes teammates higher.
“Typically you hear the egocentric, shot-first man, I shake my head once more contemplating what he did at Oak Hill,” Brickley mentioned. “As far making different gamers higher, I’ll guess the cash in my checking account that — simply as he ended the common season as high freshman scoring guard, he’d have preferred to finish the season as No. 1 help man. He actually is a keen passer.
“When you watch the tape, he’d get double-teamed, he’d make the additional move. Typically you know the way it goes. When you don’t have somebody stretching the ground, flattening pictures, you’re not getting the help.”
Whereas a freakish athlete, Anthony wants enchancment on his exterior shot. He was respectable at 34.eight p.c from 3. “Most NBA gamers that get to the proper group, they grow to be higher shooters,” Brickley mentioned. “That may positively occur with Cole.”
A powerful relationship with Anthony’s mother and father helped the bond of player-trainer. Brickley calls Anthony’s mom, Crystal, a film producer, creator and a “mom determine” to him. Brickley’s personal mother handed when he was a baby.
Greg Anthony, who performed for the Knicks through the glory days from 1991-1995, has dropped into their exercises throughout the years, giving enter. Greg Anthony lives in Florida.
“He’s given me pointers – the following couple of weeks work on this, then deal with this, watch (Stephen) Curry movie,” Brickley mentioned. “He’s positively been a part of the event course of.”
Final summer season, Brickley acquired Anthony in a fitness center with Donovan Mitchell, Trae Younger and D’Angelo Russell to “see the kind of work ethic these guys have.”
Brickley’s two prices, Cole Anthony and Carmelo Anthony, have additionally performed 1-on-1 within the fitness center. Carmelo is at present quarantining in Portland.
“It’s ridiculous how actually robust he’s on himself,” Brickley mentioned. “If you wish to watch a exercise, you’d be like “whoa.” l’ll have him do a drill — if he doesn’t get that rating, he’s going to need to do it time and again till he will get it. He’s extraordinarily aggressive. He embodies that New York toughness. I don’t know if it’s being born right here, taking part in right here however he’s a really robust child. On the subsequent degree, that may permit him to get higher.”
Brickley hopes Cole winds up a Knick, available in the market for a scoring level guard.
“I’ve requested him about it,” Brickley mentioned. “He doesn’t need to be drafted by a group that places him to the aspect and doesn’t make it a precedence to develop him. He needs to be put in a scenario the place he might be with a great teaching workers keen to maintain enhancing his sport. He’d like to play in New York for positive. He grew up in Manhattan.
“Over time, Knicks would draft guys from the New York space and it hasn’t gone properly off the courtroom. He’s acquired two actually good mother and father who stored his head on straight. They at all times advised him what was proper and incorrect. If the Knicks draft him, I don’t assume you need to fear off the courtroom.”