Nov. 14, 2007

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head men's basketball coach Larry Hunter announced the signing of Keaton Cole to a National Letter of Intent during today's early signing period. Cole is a 5-10, 170-pound guard from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and will join the Catamount roster next fall.

Cole is the second Canadian to sign to play for Hunter's Catamounts next season joining 6-4 wing, Haruona Mutombo, out of Pickering, Ontario who signed with Western in late October and will join the squad after exams in December but red-shirt the remainder of this season. In addition to Mutombo, Cole will be the fifth Canadian-born player to play for the Catamounts since 2001 joining Rans Brempong (2001-05), Corey Muirhead (2003-06) and current Catamount, Negus McKenna.

"Keaton's playmaking ability and leadership skills will be a great asset to our program," said Hunter just hours before his team opened the home portion of it's '07-08 schedule against Methodist College. "His quickness, athleticism, and decision making are exceptional. He has the unselfishness and desire to make others better that the special point guards possess, while also being able to score himself."

Hunter added, "His tenacious personality allows him to be a potentially good defender of opponents quick guards. He will enter college with some good experiences playing against some outstanding competition. Keaton fits the mold of many of the outstanding smaller impact guards in the Southern Conference."

Last season, Cole averaged 12 points and six assists per game for Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute helping lead head coach Roy Rena's squad to a 36-3 overall record. He was also the tournament MVP at the Humber College Classic, scoring 29 points in the finals.

Listed as one of the top point guards in Ontario by HooptownGTA.com, Cole was also a member of the 19-and-under Canadian National Team that competed in the World Championships this past summer in Serbia. Team Canada finished 10th overall with wins over China, Nicaragua and South Korea.

He was additional the MVP at the 17-and-under 2007 National Championships last summer, leading Ontario to the gold medal making his third-straight gold medal appearance, doing so with the 2004 and '05 under 17 provincial teams as well.

Hunter and the Catamounts open their home slate tonight (Wed., Nov. 14), as they host the Methodist College Monarchs at 7:03 pm in the Ramsey Center.

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