6-foot-4, 180 pound Moreau Catholic High (MCH) senior guard Cole Loud is a quiet assassin. He performs his job with no surrounding glitz, glamour or drama, his team collectively puts away its opponent and then it's on to the next casualty. The sole time he breaks out of stealth mode is when an opportunity for an explosive dunk presents itself.
To a question about describing himself on the court, Loud offered, "I'm a high motor, high flying player who can shoot, slash and get in the paint and my role varies from (playing) the two to the four." Another element he accepts is getting the underclassmen ready. "I also have a leadership role in mentoring the younger guys."
View video (below) on him and fully demonstrated is an athletic talent who bangs defenders backwards, exhibits excellent body control,demonstrates quick hands utilized in poking away the ball while defending and someone who sees and take advantage of cutters and passing lanes. So much so, Loud earned All-Mission Valley Athletic League status this past season as his team finished the regular season at 14-0. This alongside a Scholar-Athlete award at Moreau for his production on the court while maintaining his grade point average over 3.5.
Giving Thanks
Loud is particularly appreciative of MCL Coach Frank Knight. "Coach Frank gave me a big opportunity to play." This after Loud transferred in from Bishop O'Dowd. His parents also received his recognition and acknowledgment for "advocating for me and keeping me on track."
Asked for his best basketball moment, Loud offered, "it happened last year in the second round of the playoffs in a home game versus Alameda (High). Late in the game, my dunk put our team up by one." Moreau closed it out winning 56-51 and moved on in the Division 2 North Coast Section Boys Basketball Championships.
Loud entered playing sports very young with BMX racing particularly attractive and fun. Baseball and soccer also grabbed his attention as well as hoops. He surprisingly didn't take to the gridiron despite having a few uncles playing in the National Football League.
His goal this summer is "improving my shooting and my ballhandling." He is playing on both his high school team and with the Lakeshow AAU program during June, July and August.
Loud isn't sure what his major will be at the next level but he finds computer science interesting and he has taken a number of classes in that field. Regarding his college basketball destination, "I'll go anywhere that's high level."
Another goal is a bit further out. "Coach Knight talks about taking advantage of windows of opportunity. We have one of our best teams (at Moreau) and we want to make a state run."
Count on Loud to be leading the way, albeit usually unobtrusively. That is unless and until those dunking opportunities appear.