2010-11: Cole won the team's Coaches Award last season as a freshman when he averaged 1.9 points per game.

Prior to Owens: Cole is a graduate of Gulport in Mississippi, where he achieved a 3.3 grade point average and was named 5A Defensive Player of the Year. He also earned the team's defensive player of the year award, and he lists his greatest personal sports thrill as scoring 14 points in two minutes and 30 seconds in a tournament game his junior year. He also played football at Gulfport and is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.

Personal: Taronta is the son of Taronta Sr. and Carolyn. He is a communications studies major.