Hawk Flying Under Radar
[The LowDown on Marcus Coleman]
Friday, March 3, 2006
By Jared Field
greatlakeshoops.com
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It's
very easy to overlook players these days, even one who stands 6'5''. It's
patently obvious that certain players and schools get preferential treatment and
do not derive much benefit from the hype machine--newspapers, television, and
prep publications. Marcus Coleman, Flint
Hamady's senior power forward, is one of these players who has been flying under
the radar precisely for this reason.
To sa
y
the very least, Marcus is a player who has not received the attention he's
deserved this season. He has been a man-child all year long, scoring 23
points and pulling down 16 rebounds a game for the Hawks. Let me, for a
moment, spin-off my opening statements with a quick question: How many
players in mid-Michigan have had more than four 20 point, 20 rebound, games this
season? The short answer is ZERO.
In spite of Coleman's heroics, the Hawks, as a team, have not quite played up to their potential this season.
"My expectation for the team was, of course, to win the league. But, unfortunately, that didn't happen."
There are many teams in this area who would kill to underachieve like the Hawks. Going in to their final game of the season, Hamady's record was a not-so-bad 12 wins against seven losses. But, Hamady is a powerhouse class C program and that record just isn't good enough. It didn't happen for the Hawks during the regular season, but, because of Coleman's habit of single-handedly changing games, Hamady is not a team that any coach can take lightly in the playoffs.
Coleman is the type of
player who changes the game on both ends of the floor. When he gets a
rebound, in other words, you know it. I recall seeing Marcus earlier this
season beating the brakes off Flint Northwestern in the battle of Carpenter
road. He affected nearly every shot taken by the opposition in the post
and blocked five wildcat shots. Marcus scored 16 first half points against
one of the better class C teams in the state. In the end, however, his 24
points and 16 rebounds weren't enough to get the victory..JPG)
GLH writer, Gavin Raath, referred to Marcus in an article early on this season: "Marcus Coleman is all heart...an intriguing college prospect." I couldn't agree more. Marcus has the intangibles and that is evident to anyone who has seen him play.
"There is no secret to my performance. I am determined to get things done; it's determination that drives me. I focus on more than just scoring; I get a lot of points off crashing the boards. I do them both as hard as I can."
It's this emphasis on the little things that makes Marcus a special kind of player. It's one thing for me to describe his game, but I prefer to let him give you the LowDown: "I believe I am more of a playmaker than a scorer. I compare myself to a player like Rudy Gay by having the ability to slash and shoot." This is a kid who obviously knows basketball. For those of you who don't know, Rudy Gay is the heart and soul of the UCONN Huskies--the nation's best collegiate basketball team. Oh yeah, and Rudy is also a coach's dream. Not only that, but Marcus also comes from an athletic family. Jeff Webb, Marcus's cousin, is arguably the best receiver in the Mountain West Conference--he is the "big play" man at San Diego State.
Marcus possesses a refreshing disposition. Unlike many players these days, he gives a lot of credit to the opposition.
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"The
best team [I've played] was Flint Northwestern...[they are] very athletic. The
best player I've ever played against is Damon Franklin...he is versatile."
It's no wonder that Marcus respects Franklin's versatility, that is the name of Marcus's game as well.
Marcus has not decided where he will attend college next year, but he knows one thing for sure: he wants to play ball. I hope someone out there--preferably a college coach or recruiter--is taking all of this in. I would be very surprised to find a kid in mid-Michigan more deserving of a scholarship than Marcus.
In summation, let me just say that Marcus Coleman is a can't-miss type of player because of his grit and determination. It's not every day that colleges can garner the services of a player the caliber of Marcus this late in the season. He's not a prototype power forward, but he is without a doubt a gamer--the kind of player who truly deserves all of the attention he gets.
I think I just blew Marcus's cover. He's no longer flying under the radar.
*Marcus and the Flint Hamady Hawks play this Monday versus Burton Bendle at Lake Fenton High School in the district playoffs.
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The LowDown on Christina Rivette