Matt Coleman, a 6-foot-2 Class of 2017 point guard Oak Hill Academy (VA), is being recruited by many of the top programs in the nation but is no rush to make a decision.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Matt Coleman, a 6-foot-2 Class of 2017 point guard Oak Hill Academy (VA), is being recruited by many of the top programs in the nation but is in no rush to make a decision.
“Oregon just offered [last Thursday] but I’m still open,” he said at the Hoophall Classic. “I don’t plan on cutting my list [any] time soon. Probably [during] AAU season but I’m still open to anybody willing to recruit me.”
Coleman has interest from Cal and Kansas and thinks they might offer soon.
“I do see them offering at the end of the season or right before AAU,” he said.
He holds offers from Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, VCU, Virginia, Memphis, UConn, Texas, Indiana, Florida, Arizona, Ohio State, N.C. State, Louisville, Baylor and Seton Hall, among others.
“Texas, I hear from every day,” he said. “Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Seton Hall, N.C. State, on a consistent basis I hear from them.”
Texas coach Shaka Smart was at the Hoophall for Coleman and several other players.
“I like Shaka,” he said. “He’s a player’s coach. Very energetic, loving, caring type of person. He’s doing a little something at Texas right now so that’s good.”
Smart began recruiting Coleman while at VCU and has continued to do so.
“That means he really truly wants me and likes my personality on and off the court and he wants to coach me,” Coleman said.
Arizona is also in the mix.
“I talk to coach [Mark] Phelps and coach Book [Richardson] a lot, I hear from them at least three times a week,” he said. “They said if I come they know they’ll get at least two other guys in my class and probably have one of the best classes. He said, ‘You come, we give you the keys to the car and you’ll drive us to victory.”
Virginia is also strongly recruiting Coleman.
“Me and Coach [Tony] Bennett have a great relationship, too,” Coleman said. “He’s been recruiting me since I was in eighth grade so we really grew. Most of the time he doesn’t talk to me about basketball, he talks to me about school and family and stuff.”
Coleman said Seton Hall associate head coach Shaheen Holloway “shoots me a text at least two times a week just making sure that we still stay in touch. He says, ‘Matt, we need a lead guard like you. We get a guard like you, we could do something.'”
Coleman said he’s looking for a place where he can get playing time right away.
“Will I be able to come in and have the ball in my hands?” he said. “And just how they develop players on and off the court. Do they get guys to the league, and how they develop from freshman to sophomore year.”
