Will Coleman, a 6-9, 265-pound power forward from Miami-Dade Community College who has drawn comparisons to Joey Dorsey, has verbally committed to Memphis.
“I feel excellent,” Coleman told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “Just the whole environment up there, the team, the staff, the whole environment. I loved it.”
Coleman joins Nolan Dennis, a shooting guard from Dallas, among Memphis recruits for 2009. He was named to the FCCAA All-Southern Conference First Team this year, when Miami Dade College went 18-9. He was also named NJCAA player of the week for the week ending Jan. 27.
Coleman played at Glenwood High School in Columbus, Ga., and was praised by Rivals for his “relentless play, high energy, athleticism and fearlessness.”
He initially committed to Arkansas-Little Rock but opted to go JUCO to improve his academics, according to the Commercial Appeal. He was under-recruited in high school, but drew the attention of Memphis and was recruited by new assistant Orlando Antigua. He has put on about 50 pounds since high school, thus drawing comparisons to Dorsey.
“When I first went to Miami-Dade, no one knew who I was,” Coleman said. “I played my heart out, as a freshman and did what I had to do. I listened to the coaches, and just my name started flying I guess. It all came together.”
Memphis is also involved with Xavier Henry and John Wall. Henry will make an official visit to NCAA champion Kansas the weekend of Sept. 19 and national runner-up Memphis the weekend of Sept. 26. Wall has yet to set a visit date.
