North Carolina men’s basketball took a huge hit to their program when freshman superstar Cole Anthony was ruled out with an injury in his right knee. Anthony, who averaged 19.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over his first nine games, was a huge piece to the Tar Heels program as soon as he entered. North Carolina’s first game without Anthony on the court was a loss to an unranked team in the Wofford Terriers. The Tar Heels entered that game ranked as the #17 team in the country. 

Clearly, losing Anthony, one of the top point guard recruits in recent years, will have a huge affect on his team. Also, Anthony’s draft stock is sure to take a hit. Many expect him to enter the NBA draft after the season, following the recent trend of going “one-and-done.” Even with the injury, expect to see Anthony as a lottery pick. Anthony is a unique draft prospect with lots of potential which was showcased even in his first game as a Tar Heel, where he set the record for most points in a freshman debut in ACC history. 

While Cole Anthony is out for now, he is expected to return in the beginning of February. When he returns, Anthony will need to be back to his great level of play. North Carolina is struggling without him, most recently losing to a 7-7 Georgia Tech team at home. The Tar Heels drop to 8-6 following this loss. Anthony is a huge component of the North Carolina basketball team and they are heavily awaiting his return.