Cole Hilton Anthony (born May 15, 2000) is an American college basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Anthony finished high school at Oak Hill Academy as a five-star recruit and one of best prospects in the 2019 class.
Anthony was born in Portland, Oregon. During his birth, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, which affected his heart rate at the time but did not lead to further complications. As a toddler, Anthony moved to Manhattan, New York. By fourth grade, he was playing pick-up basketball at local parks, often seeking out older opponents. Anthony initially played baseball but decided to focus on basketball in fifth grade. He grew up under the guidance of coach Steve Harris, who mentored NBA player Kemba Walker and was a prominent Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) figure in New York.
Anthony began playing high school basketball as a freshman with Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, New York. He was a teammate of Moses Brown, a McDonald's All-American selection. After his junior season, Anthony was named to the USA Today All-USA third team. He was also a key player for the PSA Cardinals on the prestigious Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit. For his senior season, Anthony transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. As a senior, he averaged a triple-double of 17.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. Anthony was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the 2019 McDonald's All-American Game after totaling 14 points, five rebounds and seven assists. He was named MVP of the Nike Hoop Summit and shared the honors at the Jordan Brand Classic.