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Brandon Cole chasing culinary career at Johnson & Wales

09/02/2015, 9:30pm EDT
By Garrett Miley

Garrett Miley (@GWMiley)
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Former West Catholic wing Brandon Cole had one passion for the majority of his life: basketball.

In the fall of his junior year at West Catholic, Cole walks into a different kind of classroom with a pep in his step. He’s the first one there and he’s waiting for his classmates to arrive so he can offer them a hand. For the first time in his life, Cole found another place that he had the same amount of drive and determination for as the hardwood. 

The kitchen.

His abilities on the basketball court and passion for culinary art led him straight to his college decision. Cole will attend Johnson & Wales this fall as a member of their basketball team and pursuing a degree from the College of Culinary Arts.

 “I just saw a different world,” Cole said. “It all came from that one class.”

That one class was taught by former West Catholic teacher Ronald Giovanni. Or, as he’s known to his students, Chef Giovanni.

“I always had the passion for cooking but I found a love for it at this class I took at West Catholic,” Cole said. “I took a class in my eleventh grade year - they stopped the class in my twelfth grade year. Everyday I just went into that class with so much energy and so much drive that I never had before with any other thing except basketball.

“I had the determination to go there and be the first one in class to help the teacher and help the other students when they needed it...it was just a new love to me and a great feeling. I did some research on it, went on Google, and learned about all the different chefs- line chefs, sous chefs, and all the different types of chefs that go overseas and cook.”

Cole was planning on attending local D-III Gwynedd Mercy and becoming a part of their basketball team in the fall, until Johnson & Wales came calling. Cole knew immediately that Charlotte was the place for him.

“I went down there and they were so interested in me coming,” he said. “The coach showed me a great time down there, showed me around the city and took me to the stadium...Charlotte is an up-and-coming city and all of the restaurants and the opportunities that they offer...I was just so interested. From being a Philadelphia, urban-city kid to get out of the state and explore it just changed my life and my whole family’s life.”

Johnson & Wales is a very unique school and program. Their top culinary program is very attractive to certain kids, but they are also independent of the NCAA and a part of the US Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and compete against other non-NCAA teams. 

The Wildcats went 20-11 overall last season, including 6-0 in their conference and were a perfect 14-0 in their home arena.

After achieving a goal he set for himself, much to the pleasure of his family, Cole has already set his eyes on a goal at the next level. He wants to be the best Wildcat in the history of the program.

“I just thought that it would mean so much to my mom, my dad, and my family if I took the next step to go to college and get an education and get a career,” Brandon Cole said. “I chose their school because I wanted to join their athletic department and I wanted to build a name for myself. I have a name in Philly and now I want to build a name in Charlotte and become one of the best players that they’ve ever had in school history.”

After playing the four and five for the majority of his high school career, Cole will have to transition for the wing in college. He’s spent the better part of the summer working on his ball handling to become a better on-ball player, but Wildcats’ head coach Jim Casciano is looking for Cole to bring strong intangibles onto the floor in Charlotte.

“The coach was telling me that he needed some grit on the team and some energy and motivation,” Cole said. “I feel as though I can bring that. I’m a very good team player and I feel as though one person doesn’t make the team...I want to go out there with an open mindset.”


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