Cole is a Cat to know for improvement

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Cole provides more than just hoops skills.

August 12, 2011 – Sports training/skill development is a growth industry to say the least, as athletes young and old, pro and not all desire an edge against the completion. Resultantly, many people offer their services in that regard, promising to improve an athlete’s skill level and/or physical conditioning, for a fee. As with any product/service offering, both good and bad options abound.

National Basketball Association first round draft pick Nolan Smith speaks highly of one who just recently entered the game.

Chris Cole, coaching in this year's D.C. Nike Pro City summer league.

“He’s going to be a special trainer” said Smith from Durham, N.C., - where he is preparing to travel with Duke’s basketball program to China this weekend - of Chris “Fat Cat” Cole. As proof, the Duke Blue Devil All-American shared “We worked on a lot of ball handling before the draft. NBA teams said my ball handling improved. Dribbling is his specialty, but he does a lot more than that – shooting, passing, whatever. Most importantly, he’s a great mentor, a great person to be around”.

That’s high praise from someone who over the years has seen his fair share of trainers. When asked to expound upon his focus, Cole simply stated “Probably ball handling, but I can do everything; shooting, etc., bigs, guards, I’ve had everything”. Additionally he noted “My workouts are not full of 1,000 people and my workouts are catered to the individual player”.

Case in point is his work with Smith and recent Georgetown Hoya guard Austin Freeman, whose development plan centered on “ball handling and movement stuff”, facilitating better dribbling skills and lost weight. Both were on display at this year’s D.C. Nike Pro City summer league. Add the development of budding high school star Nate Britt, Jr. to Chris' growing list of credits.

Britt, Freeman and Smith as well as Dante Cunningham, also of the NBA (Charlotte), and everyone else he trains amateur and professional can expect sessions that extend between two and three hours, and include stretching, warm up and copious drills, tailored to a goal. “Everything we do is basketball related relayed Chris of their structure. “Of course except stretching of course”.

The knowledge to craft specific basketball development plans for players is born of experience; ‘Cat’ starred in high school locally at National Christian Academy (MD), before attending Hartford and New Mexico State University, where he last played three years ago.

The patience he now has in imparting it – having known Cat for years it’s apparent he’s wiser now – was born from personal challenge.

“I was diagnosed with the beginning stages of colon cancer, they found polyps” a development which ended his career at NMSU, he shared. “We caught it early. I was pretty sick but no more. The Cleveland Clinic took care of me”. He then indicated of the cancer “It’s pretty much gone. I just get checked once a year now”.

Such a significant challenge faced at such a young age gave him a new perspective “On life, basketball, everything, family…I don’t take anything for granted”.

And that includes developing players. While Chris noted eventually “I want to get into coaching” he’s fully committed to training ballers, which Cole engaged in fully this summer.

His knowledge, personal experiences, and commitment have made an instant mark in the field locally.

“I would definitely recommend him” summed Smith. “Before anything, he’s a great guy. I would want my kids around him. He teaches you more than basketball. There are a lot of people who know basketball, but he’s special”.

Contact:

For those interested in more on Cole’s basketball training, see his website www.cattlegacies.com and/or email clcole2011@cattlegacies.com