June 15 is a significant day for recruits in the class of 2020, as this is the first day those prospects can receive phone calls from Division 1 basketball coaches. A coach from Virginia reportedly contacted Trinity Episcopal (Richmond, VA) rising junior Henry Coleman III, who has been on the Cavaliers’ radar for some time but has not yet received a scholarship offer from head coach Tony Bennett.
Coleman, who is listed as being 6’8”, 225 pounds, receives consistent contact from Virginia, a school he has visited twice unofficially in recent years. He recalls attending football and basketball games in Charlottesville as a kid. Coleman’s mother is a Virginia graduate. His father is a graduate of Virginia Tech.
“[Coach Bennett] just really likes my leadership,” said Coleman, who has shown to be a model teammate at this week’s NBPA Top 100 Camp. He says he learned leadership from his father, who played football at Virginia Tech.
Position-wise, Coleman says Bennett is evaluating him to play “that stretch 4. How they run that kind of 4-guard system, just playing that baseline, being that motoring guy. Even if my freshman year, you know how they don’t really play freshman, but just coming off the bench, being that leader and that scorer.”
Old Dominion and Virginia Tech (February 2017) were among the first to offer the Richmond native. VCU came in late last year and then LSU, led by former VCU head coach Will Wade, offered this past January. Coleman’s recruitment caught fire in April and May, with TCU, Florida, Ole Miss, Richmond, Georgetown, NC State, Clemson and Wake Forest extending scholarships.
Virginia’s staff will evaluate further in July, which includes more Live Evaluation periods, and then the Cavaliers will host Coleman on another unofficial visit in August. The Trinity Episcopal standout also plans to visit Georgetown, NC State, and “probably” Virginia Tech in August.
Coleman has had good experiences at UVA in the past. He has developed a good relationship with Virginia associate head coach Jason Williford, who graduated from John Marshall High in Richmond (VA) and played travel basketball with Coleman’s father.
“I like Coach Williford a lot,” Coleman said.
“[Coleman’s dad] really trusts me [in Charlottesville] and he loves the campus,” Coleman said. “It was hard for him, but he really loves it here.”
Virginia Tech appears to be a prime contender.
“You know, a lot of people pushing me to go there,” Coleman said. “Dad played there, carry on his legacy. Buzz Williams really likes my motor, my high tempo. He just sees me fitting really well into his system.”
As a rising junior, Coleman has some time before making a college choice. He discussed what is most important in his decision.
“The academics first,” Coleman said. “My mom, being a lawyer and stuff, she really harps on academics. Also stepping on the floor freshman year, really having an impact, whether that’s rebounding, scoring, assists.”
Coleman has an impressive physique in that 6’8” frame, which is two inches taller than he was a year ago. Ballhandling and outside shooting top the list of things he wants to improve upon. Showing he is willing to work, Coleman says he shoots 500 shots every morning. And with AAU season on a temporary break before July, Coleman has worked out twice a day in the weeks leading up to the 2018 NBPA Top 100 Camp.
Through six games at the Top 100 Camp, Coleman is averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest. Friday (June 15) proved to be his best so far, as he had 8 points and 8 rebounds in the afternoon and an 8-point, 3-rebound outing in the evening.
