Nate Cohen Stays on the Move
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When Nate Cohen was looking at schools to follow his basketball career at Somers, the class of ’24 graduate had playing time as a priority. He chose SUNY Canton, put in the work and seemed on track to get in the lineup. Unfortunately, injury derailed his plans. So all he could do was roll with the breaks, and eventually, his perseverance paid off.
Missing the first seven games, he said, “by my fourth game back I was starting and had 19 points.”
Off for the adventure, nervousness wasn’t in the mix for the freshman. “I was excited,” he said “because playing college basketball was a dream.”
It didn’t take long to be awakened from the sound sleep, though. He got hurt in the first practice. “My ankle blew up like a balloon,” he said.
In a boot for two months, the Canton Kangaroo kicked back with PT and got back in play after Christmas break. “I didn’t play great, but it was my first game so it was ok,” said Cohen.
He followed by playing 25 minutes in each of the next two games and didn’t try to exceed expectations. “I played the role that the coaches asked,” said the former Tusker.
So getting in rhythm, Cohen finished strong. He had a season high 23 versus Plattsburgh, and it all came together against first place New Paltz for the last game. Swinging the ball, playing together, he said, “We played big,” and won by 15.
Of course, the jump from high school to college can’t be overlooked. Players are bigger, stronger and smarter, and Cohen felt he meet the upgrade. “I see things now that I didn’t see before, he revealed.
This includes reading the plays on defense for they happen and not settling in hopes of getting the best shot for the team. “It changes the way you think about the game,” said Cohen.
Off the court, Cohen obviously applied himself too. A Health and Fitness major has him aiming for a career in Physical Therapy or Chiropractic work.
Anatomy thus proved his most challenging course. “It was hard but also one of my favorites,” assured Cohen.
On the road and scheduling around games and practices was no either task either. But teachers and the school facilitated the process for the student athlete. “They helped me get back in the classroom, schedule extra time and catch up on assessments and lectures,” he said.
Back in the dorm, Cohen lived in a suite with four teammates, and beyond the roommates, the team bonding doesn’t take a rest. “We hangout as a team but not so much at parties, he said, “We get together at someone’s house,” and the women’s basketball team usually joins the camaraderie.
Even so, Cohen remains on the move. He entered the transfer portal, and Oneonta came calling. “They really wanted me there,” he said, and with a more winning program, the feeling is mutual.
The books were a draw for him too. “A little better academically,” Cohen said, he’ll major in Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching.
PT still in the future mix, Cohen doesn’t plan to give basketball up so easily when college comes to an end. “I’m looking to try to play pro basketball overseas,” said the sophomore.
But for now, he’s just looking back on the basics from his first year. “I learned to live on my own, deal with my schedule and my classes and was able to get through it,” he concluded. “I’ll do it again and I can improve from there.”
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