Cole Bajema

Class:
Freshman
Position:
G
Height:
6-7
Weight:
175
Hometown:
Lynden, Wash.
High School:
Lynden Christian

Pronunciation: "badge-eh-ma"

Player Note: Transferred from Michigan to Washington following the completion of freshman season (2019-20)

Who is Cole Bajema ...
• Versatile combo guard using length, athleticism and skill to play all three perimeter positions
• Known for deep shooting range, however, a willing passer and a humble leader on the court
• Cole lived in Grand Haven, Mich., from ages 2-6 and was a lifelong Michigan fan
• Grew six inches from freshman to senior year
• A notable role model for many young aspiring kids in his hometown Lynden, Washington

Michigan Career
• Helped U-M to the 2020 Battle 4 Atlantis title, winning three straight games -- Iowa State, No. 6 North Carolina and No. 8 Gonzaga at the Atlantis Resort (Bahamas)

Freshman (2019-20)
• Played in 10 games, all off the bench
• Season cut short after Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments were cancelled due to the global coronavirus pandemic
• Averaged 2.6 points per game; scored in seven of 10 games
• Played in first collegiate game against Elon (Nov. 15) in final minute
• Scored his first collegiate points (5) against Houston Baptist (Nov. 22); making first bucket on a driving pull-up jumper and following with his first career 3-pointer
• Scored a career-high nine points against Presbyterian College (Dec. 21); going 3-for-4 from field, 1-for-2 from long range and 2-for-2 at the free throw line in 11 minutes
• Shot 76.9 percent from the field (10-for-13) and 57.1 percent on 3-pointers (4-for-7)
• Grabbed career-high two rebounds against Houston Baptist
• Recorded career-highs for steals (2) and blocks (1) against UMass-Lowell (Dec. 29)
• Played in 3.7 minutes per game, recording two 10+ minute games including a career-high 13 against Houston Baptist

Prep Career
• Associated Press Class 1A Player of the Year (2018, '19), All-State first team (2018, '19) and honorable mention (2017)
• Seattle Times All-State first team (2018, '19)
• Northwest Conference MVP (2018, '19) and All-Northwest Conference first team (2017, '18, '19)
• 1A State All-Tournament team (2017, '18, '19) and Tournament MVP (2018)
• 2019 Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA) All-State game; scored 35 points
• 2019 Northwest Shootout All-Star game (Washington vs. Oregon); scored 19 points
• A four-year varsity player; compiling a 95-12 record overall, going 52-2 in final two seasons and posting four straight 20-plus win seasons
• Lynden Christian's all-time leading scorer (1,876 points), surpassing old record of 1,602 held by Isaac Reimer
• Holds Lynden Christian's top two single seasons scoring records and is all-time leading 3-point shooting percentage
• Guided Lynden Christian to the 2018 1A State championship; defeating Freeman (82-45); scored a team-best 21 points, going 7-for-10 from the field with three 3-pointers, while adding eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals in title game
• Led Lynden Christian to three straight regional (2017, '18, '19) titles and three Northwest Basketball District (2016, '18, '19) titles, compiling a league record of 45-6 in four seasons, including a 13-0 season as a senior
• As a senior (2018-19), averaged 24.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists and as a junior (2017-18), averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists

Personal
• Born on October 22, 2000 in Bellingham, Wash.
• Son of Beth and Shane Bajema
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts
• Undecided major

Personal Notes
• Mother, Beth, played collegiate basketball at Calvin College
• Sister, Kara, an All-American collegiate volleyball player at University of Washington (2016-present)
• Sister, Coryn, played collegiate soccer at the University of South Carolina (2012-16)