Race between Cole Anthony, Anthony Edwards at top of 2020 NBA Draft starts now

Physical attributes

A clear edge to goes Anthony Edwards here, which is saying something considering how impressive of an athlete Cole Anthony is. Edwards is an absolute freak of nature given his unique size, strength and power at his age.

This may not get quite the attention it deserves over the season since he is immediately following an all-time unicorn in Zion Williamson, but physical packages like his do not come around often.

His football background is evident in his ability to get low and explode. At 6’5″, he plays with the agility of someone considerably shorter.  The explosive power of Russell Westbrook with the size and strength of Dion Waiters as college sophomores is what you have with Edwards, at a time when he should still be a high school senior.

When speaking with Jon Rothstein on The College Hoops Today Podcast over the summer, Georgia head coach Tom Crean did not hold back when describing some of the things Edwards can do athletically. Comparing him to the two best guards he has ever coached in Dwyane Wade and Victor Oladipo, Crean had the following to say:

"“In Anthony’s case, without playing a game yet, the athleticism, the strength, the balance, the explosion, those things are unlike anything I have ever been a part of. He, in the weight room at times and on the track or out in the turf area or sandpit, things that we do, it’s at another level. “The key now is to make sure that motor, and that passion every day bring out these tremendous athletic capabilities.”"

This is not hyperbole. Watch one half of a game he’s playing in and every part of the quote above is believable.

See some of his work:

As mentioned, Cole Anthony is no slouch in this department in the least. He’s actually a terrific athlete for the point guard spot. There’s no better evidence of this than his outstanding rebounding numbers from Oak Hill, nearly posting double-digits in that category while playing a national schedule and alongside an elite big man in Kofi Cockburn.

He’ll unquestionably be able to hold his own if not thrive against the best the league has to offer, he just won’t be at the distinct physical advantage against virtually everyone he faces the way that Edwards will.