DaJuan Coleman is staying home.
The 6-foot-9 big man from Jamesville-DeWitt High School announced Tuesday he will attend Syracuse and not Kentucky or Ohio State.
“It’s close to home,” Coleman, the Rivals No. 3 center in the Class of 2012, told reporters. “The fans, the support and the community, and the upcoming team for the next few years.”
Coleman joins 6-8 forward Jerami Grant of DeMatha Catholic in Jim Boeheim’s 2012 recruiting class.
Syracuse had long been considered the favorite to land Coleman, who attends the same school as former Syracuse guard Andy Rautins and current point guard Brandon Triche.
He skipped an official visit to Ohio State this past weekend and went to the West Virginia-Syracuse football game instead.
Still, Kentucky coach John Calipari worked hard on Coleman, flying up to watch him in the New York State Class A championship game last spring and getting Coleman on campus for Big Blue Madness the weekend of Oct. 14.
In the end, though, the pull towards the hometown school was too much.
“During the entire recruiting process a recurring comment from all of the coaches who recruited DaJuan was how mature and focused he is,” said Jim Hart, Coleman’s coach with the Albany City Rocks. “In addition to his ample size and talent DaJuan will bring a winner’s mentality and a level of loyalty that is rare amongst high school stars today.
“While his talent on the low blocks is obvious, he is vastly underrated as a passer and ball handler. He is ultra poised under pressure and he possesses quickness and agility that bely his size.”
Coleman averaged 24.5 points and 14 rebounds last season in leading Jamesville-DeWitt to the New York State Class A championship. He is projected as the No. 7 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
Coleman averaged 24.5 points and 14 rebounds last season in leading Jamesville-DeWitt to the New York State Class A championship. He is projected as the No. 7 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
