SPRINGFIELD, MA. – As Matt Coleman emerged from the Springfield College locker room after his team’s Hoophall Classic game on Monday, he glided carefree across the hallway with a brand new burnt orange Texas hat, and a gray Texas Basketball t-shirt to match his gray Oak Hill Academy sweat-suit. Despite losing 80-77 to Nathan Hale and the nation’s No. 1 player Michael Porter, Jr., Coleman, who is extremely competitive, couldn’t hide a smile, and had a little extra bounce in his steps, which were cushioned by a pair of Nike KD 7s.
“Coming in, starting yesterday I wanted to go 3-for-3 – McDonald’s (All-American Game), a win, and commit. Unfortunately, I only got one out of three, but it’s still an unbelievable feeling just to get the weight off my shoulders,” said Coleman as he took his spot in the center of the surrounding media. “You feel like you’re playing more free, you don’t have a lot to think about on the court. Just focus on trying to get a win and making the right decisions for your teammates.”
Somewhere, in Austin, after they were done celebrating, a weight probably fell off the shoulders of Shaka Smart and company too after Coleman, the nation’s No. 35 overall prospect, announced his commitment to Texas over Duke live on ESPNU. After all, Coleman, who scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting in Monday's game and added four assists, and Smart’s relationship dates back all the way to eighth grade. Smart and then VCU assistant and current Texas staff member Mike Morrell began recruiting Coleman as much and as often as they could.
When Smart took the Texas job, Coleman was his first 2017 call. On the first day that 2017 prospects could be visited, Smart and Texas were there the first minute they could. Wherever Coleman was playing during the live evaluation periods, Smart had a seat at that game. No one spent more time recruiting Coleman than Smart and Texas. Not even close.
Oh, and for a program in desperate need of a true point guard, Coleman has been Texas’ one and only 2017 target for years.
So yeah, there was probably a sense of relief in Austin too mixed in with jubilation, or as Coleman said, “I think they’re still geeked about it.” And Coleman getting the weight off his shoulder is no lie. The decision between Duke and Texas is one he struggled mightily with.
“It’s a good feeling that it’s over, definitely. Tough situation, but I feel like he made the right decision,” Coleman’s father, Cliff Coleman, stated about the feeling now that it’s over because of how much his son went back-and-forth between the two schools. “Those guys (Texas) have been recruiting him for a long time, did a great job. I think that’s what really pushed it over the edge.”
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Recently, Coleman made the decision and let the Texas staff know his intentions, but did a good job of keeping it under wraps.
“I let them know this week. They had texted me after one of their games. I was like, ‘Don’t worry, coach I’m Hook’em, baby. I’m coming next year.’ They were like, ‘stop playing.’ And I was like, ‘I’m serious, I’m not playing.’ They were super excited. I think they’re still geeked about it, and the fan base and everybody looking for me to be there next year,” the 6-2, 180-pound point guard said.
What Texas hopes - judging from how long it recruited Coleman and how few other targets it recruited it feels pretty good about this - now is that Coleman can elevate the teammates he’ll eventually join in Austin and the Texas program.
Interestingly, Coleman tuning into Texas games, and following along this season seems to have helped Texas’ chances despite its record. Seeing the Longhorns in action led to Coleman believe even more in what Smart was telling him.
“I think just really realizing what was the best opportunity for me,” responded Coleman when asked what ultimately led to Texas winning out over Duke. “Listening, just watching Texas play, and understanding what my role would be. Shaka Smart, Mike Morrell, the UT coaches… I have a hell of a lot of respect and trust in what they’re saying, and you see… what Texas needs is a steady playmaker because they have all the guys, they just need that one guy to lead the way.”
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Trust was always an enormous factor in Coleman’s mind when it came to making a commitment decision. Texas’ consistent approach, and honest message of opportunity ended up playing big roles in Coleman’s eventual commitment to Texas.
“He just stayed consistent in what he was saying, what he was preaching. ‘Matt, you know, this is yours to take. You’re the best point guard, lead guard in the country. Nobody can run the show better than you.’ He kept saying that, kept pounding it in my head,” said Coleman about Smart's message, who joked the Texas head coach had to keep it real because he was saying the same thing for five years. “And that’s what I believe, so and I think that’s the best opportunity for me to play, under him.”
The experience Coleman had playing under Smart at USA Basketball was a positive too.
"I think there was a real trust factor built when that happened," Coleman's father said about his son playing, and starting, for Smart's U18 USA team. "He chose to ride with Matt to be the lead guard, and it paid off (gold medal). I think any of those guys (other guards) could have led the team, but Matt is a leader and that's who he went with... that trust factor between coach and point guard."
Since Smart recruited Coleman for so long, towards the end of the process it felt like the Colemans were communicating with friends rather than being recruited.
“I think it was just persistence that paid off. After a while, when we made the official visit it was like visiting with friends,” said Mr. Coleman. “After a while, just becomes a relationship. There’s really no more pressure after that initial push it’s I’m getting to know you and you’re getting to know me type of thing. I think, again, it’s about the relationship.”
The opportunity that Texas provided for Coleman and the trust factor that Smart and the future Longhorn built were integral pieces to the eventual commitment puzzle.
“He continued to make Matt make a priority and that was a big thing,” said Coleman’s father about Smart making the move from VCU to Texas, and the recruitment in general. “That’s important, and of course his ultimate dream is to play at the next level and we all know to play on that level you have to be on the floor early, and make an impact. Texas provided both of those. He can get on the floor early and he can make an impact with the team that can be pretty good if all those guys return. Coach believes in him, the staff believes in him.”
Orangebloods.com has watched Coleman for nearly two years now over a variety of events, and his leadership has always stood out. The Norfolk, Virginia native is constantly talking, and embraces the challenge of running a basketball team, which he does for prestigious Oak Hill Academy, who won the Dick's High School Nationals last season, did for a gold medal Team USA 18U National Team, and did for the Boo Williams AAU program.
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“One, I think with his resume he’ll be respected when he comes in, so he’ll be able to lead the guys,” Coleman’s father, a coach himself, stated. “And that’s what you have to do to be at that position, which is to me and all the guys that have recruited him is his most important quality – his leadership, and being able to lead the team and he’s been a winner everywhere. He knows what it takes, his commitment to winning. This will be about taking the bull by the horns.”
Where does Coleman get his leadership from? A few places, including his father, and playing above his age group on the AAU circuit in the past.
“I think it’s two-fold: me being a coach he’s been around the game forever and as a former point guard, me coaching him… he’s had a lot of knowledge of just catching the residue… I just believe two types of players are born: one is a point guard with leadership and a shooter,” Coleman’s father said. “You can’t teach shooters to shoot and you can’t teach leaders to lead. They’re just born that way. I think he was born with that gift and he’s going to use it to the best of his ability, and now we’ll get to see it at the next level at Texas.”
What Coleman believes Texas will see when he arrives are wins. He sees himself as the missing link to a young basketball team that could be really good next season.
Now, Coleman’s recruiting focus will be on trying to get players to join him rather than agonizing over a decision himself. He has a few names in mind already, including a certain big man that took an official visit to Texas the same weekend he did, and they’re all five-star prospects.
“I’m working real hard,” responded Coleman when asked if he’s recruiting Mohamed Bamba. “I’m working on Mo (Bamba) and Brian Bowen a lot. Trying to squeeze Kevin Knox in there if I can, but I’m going to see.”
When it was pointed out to Coleman that Quade Green (Kentucky signee) and Wendell Carter (Duke signee) also said they’re recruiting Bamba recently, Coleman responded with this:
“We’re all good guys, but I have an upper hand on Mo, I think. So…” he ended with a smile.
What’s known for sure is that Texas, Coleman, and Texas fans were smiling Monday morning, and probably haven’t stopped since.
“Just wait on it. Stay patient. That’s all I’m going to say,” said Coleman about his message to Texas fans.
