VA Gatorade POTY Nominee: Henry Coleman
Taking a note from fellow contributor Adam Ayalew’s “All-Met Candidate” series, we’re going to take a look at 11 guys across the state of Virginia who should compete for the coveted Gatorade State Player of the Year. While taking everything into consideration, we’re going to be looking at three categories in particular: individual production, team performance and the competition level that the programs play. We will release each candidate in alphabetical order over the next few weeks.
To get it started, we look at Trinity Episcopal junior and nationally ranked forward Henry Coleman
PRODUCTION
Coleman transferred into Trinity where he fit in perfectly with now ODU freshman guard Jason Wade and recent UNC commit and top 20 nationally ranked big man Armando Bacot. With Wade going onto college and Bacot transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, Coleman is going to be the unquestioned go-to guy this season. The 6’6” junior had great showings playing up on the 17U Adidas Gauntlet this summer, was invited to the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp at UVA and is ranked by many as a Top 50 prospect in the country. He has all of the athletic and physical tools to be a dominant guy, and if he can use his high motor and be relentless on both ends he should be one of the most productive guys in the Richmond area.
PERFORMANCE
The stakes are high at Trinity, as they’ve been to the state Final Four three of the past four seasons and won it two seasons ago. The only returning starters from last year’s team are Coleman and junior big man Burke Smith, and Coleman is by far the most productive returner on the team. If they’re going to be successful this season, Coleman is going to have to both put up big numbers and be a leader and teacher to this young and new group of players.
COMPETITION
Since winning the state championship two seasons ago, Trinity “wants all the smoke,” as the kids are saying now. Last year they played all of the best VIC schools, went to the prestigious “Holiday Hoops Giving” in Atlanta and played much of the best local competition whether private or public. Despite losing two of their top players, the Titans are still playing in tough tournaments like the Sleepy Thompson Tournament at St. Stephen’s St.Agnes, the Richmond Times Dispatch Tournament and the Benedictine Capital Classic. They also have matchups with some of the best private school teams across the state, so if Coleman can get it done they won’t be able to say it was against no-one.