January 30, 2009 11:04 am  |  31 Comments

Slamadaday: Will Coleman on Andrew Boland

Giving the athletic big man a new definition.

Meet Will Coleman, a 6-9, 260-pound sophomore with a 40+-inch vertical leap. If this clip already has you feigning for more of the JuCo star sophomore from Columbus, Ga., don’t fret–he’ll be unleashing these athletic dunks for John Calipari at the University of Memphis next year.

This particular facial happened Wed., Jan. 28 in Ft. Pierce, Fla, in a 92-69 shellacking of Indian River College.

Some simple math: Coleman 6-9 + 40 inches = 10 feet, 1 inch = He just jumped over the defender’s head, nearly kissing the rim at the same time!

Coleman plays for one of the top junior colleges in Florida, Miami Dade (20-2, 6-0 conference), and was the target of bevy of high-major universities this summer–Pitt, UConn, Missouri, Tennessee, Clemson, Minnesota, UNLV and Kentucky–before he made a verbal commitment to play for the Tigers on Aug. 14.

Despite not playing organized ball until his junior year at Glennwood HS, where he was state champion in the 100-and 200-meter dashes, Coleman originally signed with Arkansas-Little Rock. Instead, Coleman went the junior college route because of academics. At the time, he weighed (just!) 220 pounds and has since beefed up with 40 pounds (most accounts actually report 50 pounds) of sinew. Coleman appears to be a classic late-bloomer whose coach shielded him from recruiters.

Says Head Coach Matt Eisele: “He’s a freak of nature. He was an unknown in high school because he lived out in the country in Georgia and didn’t really play AAU ball. But now he may be the best junior college big man in the country. And on top of that, he is the nicest kid I ever coached. He also has a 3.0 GPA.”

Coleman is on pace to graduate and join the Tigers in the summer. He’s bigger than current-Rocket Joey Dorsey, and comparisons are already abounding among the Tiger faithful.

Memphis coaches have a track record of developing bigs. Coleman has all the physical pieces, and Coach Cal and staff could transform Coleman into an NBA Draft pick with his remaining two years of eligibility.

Oh, and a personal/fun fact from Coleman’s team profile: Likes The Carebears. Yes, he’ll fit right in at Memphis.

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  • ciolkstar Posted: Jan.30 at 11:06 am
    Whoa. Looks like a beast.

  • riggs Posted: Jan.30 at 11:46 am
    care bears countdown!

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Jan.30 at 12:15 pm
    JuCo players are often seen as ‘insurance’ in case the big recruit signs elsewhere. Will ‘Carebear’ Coleman is not insurance. This guy has vast potential. I need to see more of what he’s capable of next season.

  • Cizzo Posted: Jan.30 at 12:39 pm
    M.U. got Coleman and Henry coming to join Evans,all we need now is Born Ready A.K.A. Lance Stepheson I bet the Tigers bring the elusive trophy Memphis pronto!!!!

  • B. Long Posted: Jan.30 at 12:43 pm
    The Memphis Tigers of next year could quite possibly beat the Memphis Grizzlies…or at least the Clippers.

  • tim7676 Posted: Jan.30 at 12:47 pm
    University of Memphis is primarily looking at two more players to add to this years recruiting class. The #1 point guard in the country John Wall,and the #1 BIG MAN in the country Demarcus Cousins. Both players are said to be very interested in playing for the Tigers.

  • Double R Posted: Jan.30 at 1:22 pm
    @riggs: 5,4,3,2,1

  • SLAM ONLINE | Posted: Jan.30 at 1:42 pm
    [...] UM Can Taste The Future [...]

  • TADOne Posted: Jan.30 at 2:15 pm
    Next time say Memphis can taste the future. UM means Michigan and the title got me excited.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Jan.30 at 2:54 pm
    My bad, TAD. It’s fixed.

  • TADOne Posted: Jan.30 at 3:04 pm
    I was actually half-kidding Ryne. But thanks.

  • Robe Posted: Jan.30 at 3:05 pm
    Two dudes ran out the gym lol

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Jan.30 at 3:05 pm
    How do you add 40(or 50) pounds of tendon?

  • Panagiotis Vasilopoulos Posted: Jan.30 at 3:08 pm
    I can already see his draft report: “propably closer to 6-7 than 6-9…” almost happens this way with juco’s….

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Jan.30 at 3:13 pm
    Boing, it’s called supreme genetics.

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Jan.30 at 4:33 pm
    CLICK MY NAME FOR A KRS-ONE FREESTYLE

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Jan.30 at 9:53 pm
    Tarzan, this is a basketball site, and its not ‘89, stop posting that sh!t.

  • Jack Posted: Jan.31 at 5:56 am
    He looks like a mix of Tyson Chandler and Michael Vick.

  • nastierthanyou Posted: Jan.31 at 11:45 am
    I not buying the State chamion in the 100 and 200. If he is and he ran like a 10.7 in the 1 and a 21.9 in the duece. THAT’S NASTY. Slam don’t cheat your fans pub this guys winning time in the state championships.

  • addam Posted: Jan.31 at 6:44 pm
    He looks like Bodie!

  • Pistons_Go Posted: Jan.31 at 7:44 pm
    B Long your crazy.The worste NBA team>>>The best NCAA Team.GTFO!

  • Andrew Boland Posted: Feb.2 at 2:25 pm
    Yea he did get me… but to all ya’ll we do got to play them again… ANd tell them that there is a price tag on his head…. ANd yes i said it…… BROWARD COUNTY BOI

  • Ronnie King Posted: Feb.10 at 10:27 pm
    CALIPARIS, TIGERS and CARE BEARS….OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Ronnie King Posted: Feb.10 at 10:30 pm
    Maybe not this year although I am always a BELIEVER, With this guy, Tyreek and the #1 blue chip next year we will truly be NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!

  • Pcal Posted: Feb.14 at 3:37 pm
    Panagiotis Vasilopoulos I went to high school with Will. He is every bit of 6′9.

  • Adrian Bond Posted: Mar.8 at 11:29 pm
    This guy coupled with Henry and as of today Cousins and possibly Wall….Whoooaaa!! Coach Cal is doing it again for Memphis!! Adrian Bond

  • RDL Posted: Mar.18 at 4:44 pm
    Stephenson is not in the tigers eyes anymore..i think he is the one Cal was quoted as saying “..We have so much talent coming in, that we had to turn away guys when they are coming here for self, and not for the team”..
    Stephenson kept saying he was interested in memphis in feb, but…i dont think the tig’s are interested in him lol

  • Adrian Bond Posted: Mar.31 at 7:17 pm
    Oh well, so much for the #1 recruiting class in Memphis huh?? There is much sadness in the Memphis area now that Coach Calipari has left to go to Kentucky. Back to the drawing board! Adrian Bond
    Memphis

  • Adrian Bond Posted: Mar.31 at 7:20 pm
    Will Coleman, Darnell Dodson, Xavier Henry, Demarcus Cousins, and possibly John Wall….What a let down!! Memphis would have had the #1 recruiting class hands down if Coach Calipari had stayed in Memphis. All bets off now!! Adrian Bond
    Memphis

  • Memphis Tigers Will Coleman Nails the “Kiss Dunk” : Total Pro Sports Posted: Nov.5 at 12:59 pm
    [...] Tip- [Slam Online] AKPC_IDS += “20742,”; Share and [...]

  • Justin Kyle Posted: Jan.22 at 2:03 pm
    nah panagiotis, i played against him in highschool, he really is 6′9

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