Former BE basketball star to move on from The Citadel, medical school next

Citadel basketball player Cole Alexander is a throwback to the days when the NCAA’s branding tagline was “Most of us go pro in something other than sports.”

 

It’s a far cry from today, when NIL money and the transfer portal dominate the college athletics conversation. Alexander, who starred at Bishop England High School, hasn’t received a penny in NIL money or even considered transferring.

 

He’s a throwback. In fact, the 6 foot, 7 inches, 220-pound forward is going to graduate from The Citadel in only three years.

 

His basketball stats aren’t overwhelming. He’s played in 10 games in his career and scored four points. But what is remarkable is that he has a 4.0 GPA at the military college, making the dean’s list every semester. There’s a sports angle as well. He’s been named to the Southern Conference All-Academic Team three times.

 

The Citadel completed its season with a 5-25 record, and Alexander plans to go pro – as a doctor.

 

“It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been worth it,” said Alexander, who had a weighted GPA of 5.2 at BE. “I’m sure I’m going to miss basketball every once in a while, but my future is in the medical field.”

 

Alexander has been on a mission since he enrolled at Bishop England. He led the team with 12.4 points and 9.3 rebounds his senior season in 2022. He also had 30 college credit hours thanks to AP classes along with one summer class before he even entered a classroom at The Citadel.

 

The just-completed season at The Citadel marked the first time that he played with his younger brother Aiden.

 

Aiden also played basketball at Bishop England but was never on the same team as his older brother. Aiden played on the junior varsity team when Cole played on the varsity team. Aiden averaged 11.8 points, hitting 52 percent of his shots his senior year at BE. The 6-4, 180-pounder also averaged 4.6 rebounds.

 

Aiden decided to stay close to home, enrolled at The Citadel, and was on the basketball team this season, although he did not appear in any games.

 

Cole said playing with his brother on the same team was surreal.

 

The brothers developed an interest in basketball at an early age and played on various youth teams before enrolling at BE.

 

Cole scored only one basket this season, and it was a 3-pointer. What he remembers most about the basket was his brother’s reaction.

 

“First off, he’s never beat me in one-on-one,” Cole said with a laugh. “But when I made that 3-point shot, it was surreal. After I made it, I looked back over at the bench, and there Aiden was, standing up, celebrating my basket. It was surreal.”

 

Cole said playing in his last organized game of basketball was a shock.

 

“It’s hard to believe it’s over,” he said. “It seems like I’ve been playing forever. When we lost to VMI in the Southern Conference tournament, that was the end. I cried.”