Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus USC on October 25, 2025 , Loss , 61, to, 67
M Basketball
vs USC
L 61-67
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Wesley Kurz
Coles brings winning ways, versatile skills to GCU
5/7/2024 8:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
At 6-8, grad transfer made 42% of 3s last season, played 100 games in 3 TCU years
When JaKobe Coles was choosing his next hoop home from dozens of college basketball suitors, the 6-foot-8 forward prioritized picking a place with a winning culture and a coaching staff that believed in his game.
Believing in what Coles can do for Grand Canyon is an easy one for Lopes head coach Bryce Drew and the staff, whose undeniable faith in his skills and vision for his fit led to Coles signing to transfer from TCU to GCU.
Coles recorded the Big 12's 12th-best player efficiency rating, which calculates all game statistics, for the Horned Frogs last season, when he averaged 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.5 minutes per game with 42% 3-point shooting.
"JaKobe Coles is a huge addition to our program," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He brings years of competitiveness and winning with him. There are many skills he brings to the floor that will help our team immediately. Lopes fans are going to enjoy watching JaKobe."
Coles opened last season as a TCU starter and averaged 14.3 points during the Horned Frogs' 7-0 start, but he then began trying to play through plantar fasciitis and a back-to-back set of games in Hawaii sidelined him with the foot injury for three games. Coles switched to a reserve role upon returning in mid-January and ended the season by tallying 19 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes of TCU's 88-72 NCAA tournament loss to Utah State.
Last season, Coles scored as many as 21 points (with six rebounds vs. Omaha) and grabbed as many as 10 rebounds (with nine points vs. Old Dominion). With eight games of multiple made 3-pointers, his 42% 3-point shooting was a big bump from 32% the previous season. He also was trusted defensively to play every frontcourt position.
"I'm a highly versatile player that is smart and can put the ball in the basket," Coles said. "I feel like I can bring winning to any team and can fit any role on a team. I'm a very adaptable player, but I also have an IQ for the game. I know how to play the right way. I've been in many close games, many hard-fought games and come out on top of those."
While Coles was at TCU, the Horned Frogs won more than 20 games each season (64-30 combined) and made the NCAA tournament each season. TCU had not qualified for NCAAs since 2018 before Coles' arrival.
"With my skill level and the way that I play with that offense, I think it'll be a really great dynamic for myself and for the team fitting in," Coles said of GCU. "I know I still have to go to another team and fit the culture. From what I've seen from Coach Drew and the staff and the players, they have a culture that is very like-minded to what I want. I know I can come in and be the best player I can be on the offensive side and defensive side."
Coles is graduating Saturday from TCU in Communications with a Criminal Justice minor after starting his college journey at Butler in 2020. The Denton, Texas, native suffered a left knee injury in a Jan. 1, 2021, team practice and underwent surgery, allowing him to claim a medical redshirt season after playing only six games for Butler.
In three seasons and 100 appearances for TCU, Coles' perimeter shooting, three-level scoring and all-around game improved to expand his role from 8.7 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman to 16.7 as a sophomore and 20.5 last season.
"From the jump once I hit the transfer portal, GCU was hitting me pretty heavy," Coles said. "I had a lot of schools I had to look at, but it's about winning and getting to the tournament and cutting nets. I feel like that's what GCU is all about, and that's what the coaching staff really values
"They have a very good history in basketball in the last four years of making the tournament (three times). I want to be part of something special. Coach Drew and his staff were wonderful, My family loved them on our visit. They really believe in me and have the utmost confidence in my talent level. They want me to be the best player I can be."
Coles has felt that since his commitment and official signing, as he continues to hear from GCU coaches regularly to check in on his well-being before his arrival in Phoenix later this month.
"That's the family part that I appreciated," Coles said. "When I went on the visit, I loved the culture. I got to meet some of the guys and hear what they said. The fan base is amazing. I've got to look at it for the last few years, and I've kept up with it. It looked like a fun place to play at but also one that can accomplish my dreams as well.
"This is the most excited I've been since I've been in college. I'm really happy that I made this decision. I'm ready to be the best player I can be, help the team win and be a part of something special."
Believing in what Coles can do for Grand Canyon is an easy one for Lopes head coach Bryce Drew and the staff, whose undeniable faith in his skills and vision for his fit led to Coles signing to transfer from TCU to GCU.
Coles recorded the Big 12's 12th-best player efficiency rating, which calculates all game statistics, for the Horned Frogs last season, when he averaged 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.5 minutes per game with 42% 3-point shooting."JaKobe Coles is a huge addition to our program," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He brings years of competitiveness and winning with him. There are many skills he brings to the floor that will help our team immediately. Lopes fans are going to enjoy watching JaKobe."
Coles opened last season as a TCU starter and averaged 14.3 points during the Horned Frogs' 7-0 start, but he then began trying to play through plantar fasciitis and a back-to-back set of games in Hawaii sidelined him with the foot injury for three games. Coles switched to a reserve role upon returning in mid-January and ended the season by tallying 19 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes of TCU's 88-72 NCAA tournament loss to Utah State.
Last season, Coles scored as many as 21 points (with six rebounds vs. Omaha) and grabbed as many as 10 rebounds (with nine points vs. Old Dominion). With eight games of multiple made 3-pointers, his 42% 3-point shooting was a big bump from 32% the previous season. He also was trusted defensively to play every frontcourt position.
"I'm a highly versatile player that is smart and can put the ball in the basket," Coles said. "I feel like I can bring winning to any team and can fit any role on a team. I'm a very adaptable player, but I also have an IQ for the game. I know how to play the right way. I've been in many close games, many hard-fought games and come out on top of those."
While Coles was at TCU, the Horned Frogs won more than 20 games each season (64-30 combined) and made the NCAA tournament each season. TCU had not qualified for NCAAs since 2018 before Coles' arrival.
"With my skill level and the way that I play with that offense, I think it'll be a really great dynamic for myself and for the team fitting in," Coles said of GCU. "I know I still have to go to another team and fit the culture. From what I've seen from Coach Drew and the staff and the players, they have a culture that is very like-minded to what I want. I know I can come in and be the best player I can be on the offensive side and defensive side."
Coles is graduating Saturday from TCU in Communications with a Criminal Justice minor after starting his college journey at Butler in 2020. The Denton, Texas, native suffered a left knee injury in a Jan. 1, 2021, team practice and underwent surgery, allowing him to claim a medical redshirt season after playing only six games for Butler.
In three seasons and 100 appearances for TCU, Coles' perimeter shooting, three-level scoring and all-around game improved to expand his role from 8.7 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman to 16.7 as a sophomore and 20.5 last season.
"From the jump once I hit the transfer portal, GCU was hitting me pretty heavy," Coles said. "I had a lot of schools I had to look at, but it's about winning and getting to the tournament and cutting nets. I feel like that's what GCU is all about, and that's what the coaching staff really values
"They have a very good history in basketball in the last four years of making the tournament (three times). I want to be part of something special. Coach Drew and his staff were wonderful, My family loved them on our visit. They really believe in me and have the utmost confidence in my talent level. They want me to be the best player I can be."Coles has felt that since his commitment and official signing, as he continues to hear from GCU coaches regularly to check in on his well-being before his arrival in Phoenix later this month.
"That's the family part that I appreciated," Coles said. "When I went on the visit, I loved the culture. I got to meet some of the guys and hear what they said. The fan base is amazing. I've got to look at it for the last few years, and I've kept up with it. It looked like a fun place to play at but also one that can accomplish my dreams as well.
"This is the most excited I've been since I've been in college. I'm really happy that I made this decision. I'm ready to be the best player I can be, help the team win and be a part of something special."
Players Mentioned
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