WINTER HAVEN – After starting his college basketball career playing Division I, Polk State forward Keenon Cole will do that once again.
Cole has signed with Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. after just one season at Polk State. Lindenwood will officially transition from Division II to Division I on July 1. To get back to the Division I level, Cole said Polk State head coach Brandon Giles and assistant Josh Jackson delivered on their promises.
"I'm very grateful for them," Cole said. "They're men of their word. I thank them all the time."
A 6-foot-7 power forward with the ability to score inside or outside, Cole averaged just shy of 12 points and better than five rebounds per game for the Eagles last season. He shot nearly 48% from the field and 41% from beyond the three-point arc.
"He was a great player and a joy to be around," Giles said. "As for his team, we all loved him."
A native of Chicago and standout at Streamwood High School in Illinois, Cole began his collegiate career at Northern Illinois University. He played in 19 games in two seasons with the Huskies before entering the transfer portal.
"With Division I or II transfers, we do everything in our power to get them back to that level," Giles said. "He put in a lot of work and never backed down."
Cole was told by Polk State coaches that he would thrive. In his lone season with the Eagles, Cole was named to the All-Central Conference's first team.
"They helped me to see my potential," he said of his coaches. "They showed me how to be a leader. The coaches make you work hard, but they'll get you where you want to be."
Despite being more than 1,200 miles from home, Cole said the team support made the distance a non-issue.
"Polk felt like a home away from home," he said. "From the coaches to my teammates, administration, and even the community, I felt like I was never alone and always had someone to turn to. Polk was a great place for me to grow on and off the court. I will be forever thankful to have been coached by Coaches Giles and Jackson."
While being recruited, Cole said he felt that same connection with the Lindenwood staff, led by head coach Kyle Gerdeman. Lindenwood will be transitioning to the Ohio Valley Conference, which is home to solid men's basketball programs like Murray State, Belmont, and Morehead State.
"It was a home environment," Cole said of Lindenwood. "They're getting a player who loves the game. They're getting a player who leaves it all on the court."
