Fayetteville rapper J. Cole makes highlight-reel play in second professional basketball game

Fayetteville rapper J. Cole didn’t score in the second game of his professional basketball career, but he went viral with a highlight-reel play on Wednesday morning. 

Cole, who made his debut May 16 with the Rwanda Patriots of the Basketball Africa League, played just under 16 minutes in Rwanda’s 78-72 comeback win against the Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club at Kigali Arena.

The 36-year-old Terry Sanford High School graduate had an eventful seven minutes off the bench in the first half. After entering the game with just over six minutes left in the first quarter, he recorded a block, steal, rebound and picked up two fouls. He missed both of his shot attempts. 

With just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter, GNBC's Kiady Razanamahenina dribble toward the basket from the right wing and rose up for a shot.

Cole swatted the ball toward the baseline before saving it from going out of bounds and starting the fast break for the Patriots. 

Cole released his 12-track album “The Off-Season” on May 14. As of Wednesday morning, the multiplatinum artist had nine of the top 11 songs on the Apple Music top 100. 

Former NC State standout Brandon Costner scored a team-best 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Patriots, who trailed at halftime before making a second-half charge to clinch a spot in the knockout stage of the tournament. 

Cole and the Patriots will wrap up the group stage portion of their schedule against Monastir on Saturday afternoon at 3. 

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.