Cole Long is back in St. John’s again, at Memorial University, where he’s working towards a masters degree in kinesiology and playing a very good brand of basketball.
He’s sleeping in his own bed, and enjoying the home cooking.
Who says you can’t come home again?
Fresh off an NCAA stint at the University of Detroit-Mercy, the 22-year-old Long couldn’t be happier as the newest Memorial Sea-Hawk, with his first opportunity to play at home since 2014, when he was a Grade 11 student at the now-razed Booth Memorial High School.
Long spent the next couple of years in Orangeville, Ont., at the Athlete Institute, the reputable Canadian prep school, where he was teammates with future NBA players Jamal Murray and Thon Maker.
Fast forward a bit, and today we see Long, now 22, graduated from Detroit-Mercy – in three years, no less – with a degree in psychology, and three seasons of NCAA Division I basketball where he averaged 2.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 19 games last season, 3.8 points and 2.6 boards in 30 appearances in 2017-18 and two points and 2.1 rebounds in 30 games played in his 2016-17 freshman season.
“It was a great personal growth experience,” he said of his time in Motown, “… an excellent life experience.
“I got to live in a new city, meet new people, develop a lot of friendships and play some top-flight basketball. Not many people can say they played NCAA basketball.”
And now Long is ready for the next phase of his career, and he’s excited it involves his hometown Sea-Hawks, of the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference within Canadian intercollegiate U Sports.
If the pre-season is any indication, the 6-7 forward’s presence figures to have an impact on Memorial.
On Thanksgiving Day weekend, Long was the tournament MVP as Memorial won Montreal’s Concordia Classic. He also earned a berth on the tournament all-star team, along with teammate and first-team Atlantic University Sport all-star Nathan Barker of Corner Brook.
“With Nathan (two-team conference all-star and former all-rookie team member) and Manny Ring (last year’s AUS rookie of the year), the parts are in place here,” Long said. “We have some very talented players.
“When I talked to Peter (head coach Peter Benoite) and Ian (assistant Ian Coultas), things just came together. Returning to MUN was always in the back of my mind.”
Now tipping the scales at 210 pounds, Long feels he’s physically prepared to compete on the basketball court for a full season.
“When I talked to Peter Benoite and Ian Coultas, things just came together. Returning to MUN was always in the back of my mind.”
Cole Long
In addition to that, he said, he’s mentally prepared for a new year that opens this weekend at home against the University of New Brunswick Reds.
The Sea-Hawks and Reds hook up 8 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Field House.
The Memorial women’s basketball team also begins its 2019-20 AUS season against UNB this evening and Sunday.
“I think the Concordia tournament was a big step for me,” Long said. “I think I’m ready to play a big role.
“I know I’m a lot stronger, and with that comes confidence. And there’s a lot of confidence in the dressing room. Everyone has high expectations this year.”
Benoite, for one, is certainly pleased to have Long in the fold this season, giving him five players on the roster who are 6-6, or taller.
“He’s a great addition,” Benoite said, “a player with great experience who’s been around the block. He brings a confidence and steadiness that shows on the floor.”
[email protected]
