June 23, 2011
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Norris Cole capped off his record-setting Cleveland State career on Thursday when he was chosen by the Chicago Bulls as the 28th pick of the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, which was held in Newark, N.J.
Although chosen by the Bulls, Cole's stay in Chicago didn't last long as word of a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves leaked out shortly after the Viking captain was picked. His stay in Minnesota was short-lived as well as before the second round concluded, he was traded by Minnesota to the Miami Heat where he will team with the trio of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Cole becomes the first Viking to be selected in the NBA Draft since Clinton Smith was chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the fourth round (98th pick) of the 1986 draft with only Franklin Edwards (22nd pick by Philadelphia in 1981) and Darren Tillis (23rd pick by Boston in 1982) were selected higher in the draft.
"I am extremely happy for Norris and his family," CSU head coach Gary Waters said. "He is a complete player who is perfectly suited for the NBA. He shows great leadership ability as a point guard yet is capable of scoring in a number of ways himself. More importantly, his knowledge of the game is outstanding and he excels at getting his teammates involved in the play.
"I have enjoyed working with Norris and his agent as they have gone through this process. One common comment that the various NBA teams have had when I have spoken with them is how hard Norris works defensively. That is the difference between him and many of the other players in the draft."
Cole, a 6-2, 175-pound guard from Dayton, Ohio, became the first Viking to earn honorable mention All-America honors on the Associated Press team since 1986 when was the only player in the country to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game this season. He was one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which is presented to the nation's top point guard, and was a finalist for the John Wooden Award, which is given to the top player in the nation.
The first player in league history to be named Horizon League Player of the Year and Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, he led the Horizon League in scoring (21.7 ppg), steals (2.2) and free throw percentage (.853), ranked second in assists (5.4), third in minutes played (35.7), fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.93) and defensive rebounds (5.2) and eighth in rebounds. Cole set the CSU single season records for points (780), free throws made (227) and free throws attempted (266), scoring 20 points or more 20 times.
Cole had the top individual game in the Horizon League this year in scoring (41 vs. Youngstown State), rebounds (20 vs. Youngstown State), free throws made (15 vs. Green Bay) and steals (6 vs. UIC). His 41-point, 20-rebound and nine-assist effort against the Penguins was only the second 40-20 game in NCAA Division I in the last 15 years. (Blake Griffin has the other.)
Cole finished his career as the Cleveland State career record holder in games played (140), consecutive games played (140) and minutes played (4,114). He also ranks second in career victories (90), third in scoring (1,978), free throws made (479) and field goals attempted (1,554) and fourth in free throws attempted (587) and field goals made (677).
