Aminata Cole of Anchorage might be reluctant to brag about her accomplishments on the basketball court this season, but her numbers are pretty hard to ignore.

The freshman leads the Southwestern Oregon Community College women’s team in rebounding [11.7] and blocked shots [2.6] and ranks second in scoring [15.2] in 21 games.
 
“At the beginning a lot of our sophomores got hurt and so I was starting, which was a huge shock to me,” Cole said. “Coming into this I knew I was an OK basketball player, but I didn’t think I was starting material. So the fact I was made me work that much harder. That was a cool feeling. It just shows that all the hard work you put in, it definitely pays off.”
 
Cole is no stranger to success, earning all-state honors at Dimond High as a junior and senior, and receiving college offers from multiple four-year schools.
 
But the 5-foot-10 forward didn’t believe she was prepared to make that jump. To be honest, few Alaska players are.
 
“I wanted to play at a four-year level, but I just didn’t think mentally and physically I was ready, so I thought going to a two-year school would be the best fit for me,” Cole said.
 
Dimond coach Jim Young said Cole’s honesty is a breath of fresh air.
 
“She didn’t get all caught up in the whole ‘I-gotta-play-D1-right-away’ thing,” he said. “She’ll eventually move on to play at a four-year school, but right now she is getting the development she needs to play at a higher level.
 
“Playing junior college isn’t a demotion. It’s a promotion. Anytime you can get to play after high school at any level and have success as a student-athlete, it’s a promotion.”

Cole is one of just five players in the massive Northwest Athletic Association of Junior Colleges to average a double-double this year.
 
She has produced some monster games – scoring as many as 32 points, grabbing as many as 18 rebounds and blocking as many as six shots.
 
Now you can add game-winning shot to the list of accomplishments.
 
Just three days ago against Mt. Hood, Cole converted the go-ahead basket with a low-post bucket with 19.8 seconds left to propel SWOCC to a 64-60 victory. She finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Even more, she made the winner with her weaker hand.
 
“It’s kind of on and off with my left hand,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t like to use my left hand so when I do I make it easier for myself. I’m right handed and want to use my right hand, but I’m pretty good with my left hand and getting more comfortable with it.”
 
Cole leads the NWAACC in blocked shots and ranks third in rebounding.
 
“It’s kind of weird to see how well I’m doing, but I am glad I am. I really do put a lot into basketball,” Cole said. “When my friends are going out, I’m going to the gym and putting up shots. It’s not like I’m not having fun, but I know what my main focus is here, and it’s basketball.
 
“I want to be better than I am right now, and I know I can. I know it’s in me. I’m not at my best yet.”

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