Rising Senior Spotlight - Cole Bryant
Every coach out there wants to advocate for their kids, but not every coach has the same credibility when they do it. Tony Newsom's is second to none. So when he says he believes Cole Bryant is a division I prospect, we pay attention, and college coaches should too.
He said the same thing about Jonas Harper a couple of years ago. Just one school listened and they won the Patriot League this spring with Harper playing a key role.
Just like recommendations, context is also important when analyzing stats. Bryant put up 12 points per game this year, but the way in which he did it is just as important. He took college shots from college spots, while sharing the ball in the type of system he'll play in at the next level as well.
In short, Bryant was one of those prospects who has been ascending within recent months and was depending on the spring and summer recruiting periods to solidify his stock as a D1 player. He has interest ranging from the Patriot League, NEC, and America East to the NE-10 and the NESCAC, with the goal being to play at a high academic D1 school.
Prospect Profile
Height: 6'4"
Position: Guard
School: St. Luke's (CT)
Travel: New York Jayhawks
By the Numbers
2019-20 Stats: 12pts, 4rebs, 1.4ast, & 1stl
Academics: 3.2 GPA & 1180 SAT
Personal Statement
My name is Cole Bryant. Anyone who knows me would say that I am extremely passionate about the game of basketball. That's probably because my love for the game is reflected through my work ethic on and off the court. Missing the 3SSB Circuit summer has been tough for me because I was so looking forward to the competitiveness. It's my favorite aspect of the game.
Nonetheless, I always try to have a growth mindset. I have used this period to work as hard as I can to prepare for a winning senior season and a successful college career. I have a schedule for myself every day. I've truly tried to be a sponge and learn as much as possible to ultimately help me acquire more of a physical and mental edge on my opponents.
On the court, I am a team-first player. I am also a very confident shooter, who can handle the ball as well and score at all three levels. On top of that, I take a lot of pride in defense and I absolutely love to compete at the highest level at all times. During this pandemic, I have been studying a lot of the great NBA Point Guards to help expand my basketball IQ. I have also been doing a series of exercises to help me reach my peak athletically. With that being said, I am thoroughly excited to get back to real basketball because I feel a lot of the recent work is starting to pay off.
Recommendation
"Cole is a big guard at six-foot-four with a great feel for the game. He was an All-NEPSAC and All FAA performer who shot the ball extremely well from three and scored at all three levels. A good leader who has been one of our captains for the last two years. He has good defensive instincts and uses his size and length very well to get steals. Outstanding rebounder on the defensive glass. I have seen tremendous growth in Cole's game in the last two years due to his terrific work ethic. I feel Cole's best days are still ahead of him and he will have a fine college career."
- Tony Newsom, Head Coach, St. Lukes School
Scout's Take
"Cole Bryant was a prospect I was looking forward to seeing again this spring. He should a lot of early upside as an underclassman and seems to really be hitting his stride within the last year. He has great positional size, a good stroke from behind the arc, and the type of compact release that is necessary to be a shot-maker at the next level. He attacks close-outs well and can make some plays with the ball, but more than that, he just seems to understand who he is as a player and what his game is."
- Adam Finkelstein, NERR & ESPN
Video Highlights
Cole Bryant