Running that point at Oak Hill is similar to being the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers or the ace for the New York Yankees; if you’re going to do it you better do it at an elite level.
Steve Blake. Rajon Rondo. Ty Lawson. Nolan Smith. Brandon Jennings. Quinn Cook.
All guys that have played the point at Oak Hill, all guys that have gone on to play in the NBA. Nine of legendary head coach Steve Smith’s point guards have gone on to NBA careers and 6-foot-2 junior Matt Coleman appears to be the next in line.
“He knows the point guards that have come before him and he’s comparable to all those guys,” said Smith. “I told him he was going to get the ball for two years and run our team and if he’s good then we’ll be good.”
So far, so good for Coleman and for Oak Hill.
While he most frequently draws comparisons to Jennings (because he is left-handed and shares an eerily similar swag) Coleman and his Warriors are off to a 24-1 start and he has been as good as advertised, averaging 11.2 PPG and 6.5 APG while shooting 51% from the field.
He’s been at his best in big games, hitting up nationally-ranked Huntington Prep for a season-high 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 93-85 win in December. Against Paul VI Coleman flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
It was another day at the office for Coleman on Friday night with his 12 points and six assists guiding Oak Hill past Rainier Beach, 83-62, and putting the Warriors in the championship game of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions for the second straight year.
Smith won’t deny putting a lot of pressure on his junior point guard, but he’s more than answered the call.
“I demand a lot out of him and he knows it,” said Smith. “He’s our facilitator; he’s the guy that makes them go. He’s got some personalities out there that he has to keep happy. I need him to score some too but mainly he wants to distribute the ball, get us in our offense and get us some easy shots. In transition he’s really good; he does a good job of knowing when a guy needs a shot and how to keep them happy.”
Sometimes that’s a task easier said than done because of a roster that features nine players ranked in the top 150 of their class not including Coleman. Ranked No. 2 nationally in USA Today, the Warriors are the most talented collection of prep talent in the nation.
Coleman doesn’t mind the pressure or expectations, which is part of the reason he decided to transfer to Oak Hill. He has also continued to grow as a player for Smith, who has publicly voiced the extreme level of trust he has in his point guard.
“It means something to me; I take it to heart,” said Coleman. “He has that trust in me so I want to make sure that I get the job done so we can build more trust. I’m hungry to get him a national championship. I came here for a reason. I want to get better, prepare myself for the next level and win a Dick’s national championship.”
But, before he can help lead Oak Hill to a national title, he and the Warriors will battle with Sierra Canyon.
The Trailblazers are No. 6 in the most recent USA Today Top 25 and junior guard Remy Martin has referred to himself and teammate Devearl Ramsey as the fastest backcourt in the country.
While Coleman, along with classmates Lindell Wiggington and Devontae Shuler rival the SC backcourt for that honor, Saturday’s clash may be the most anticipated high school game in the nation to this point of the season.
Games like this will not only help Oak Hill prepare for what will likely be another trip to the Dick’s Sporting Goods National Tournament, where Montverde Academy has ended the Warriors’ season three straight years, but these marquee games also add to the blossoming stock of Matt Coleman.
ESPN has him rated as the No. 3 point guard in the Class of 2017 and the No. 24 prospect overall. Rivals grades him out as the No. 29 overall prospect in the class. Scout lables Coleman as a 5-star recruit and the No. 23 overall player.
Nearly every major program has offered Coleman with all five “power” conferences being represented. Perennial powers such as Arizona, Indiana, Texas, Florida, Louisville, UCONN and Ohio State have all thrown their name in the hat for Coleman.
While he is focused on helping his team win games, Coleman did offer some insight into what will help him decide which program will earn his services.
“I probably won’t start narrowing my list until the end of this season or maybe the middle of the AAU season,” said Coleman. “I’m really just watching who’s there, who will be on the roster and how I would fit in and what can I do to help them become a championship contender. I still have a full year, but I do want to make my decision before the start of my senior season. I’m still open in my recruitment. Whoever wants me I would love to hear from you.”
Oak Hill and Sierra Canyon will tipoff in the championship of the 32nd Bass Pro Tournament of Champions at 9 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports.
