Coleman Picks Providence

New England Recruiting Report | Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Gerard Coleman spent the day on Providence College’s campus on Sunday as he visited the school unofficially. 

Before he left he gave head coach Keno Davis some very good news, making a verbal commitment to join the Friars program. 

“I knew coming up here that I was going to commit today,” Coleman told the New England Recruiting Report shortly after informing Providence’s coaching staff of his decision. 

Ultimately, it seems Providence offered the star wing player just about everything he was looking for in a school. 

“I like the school and the academics, it’s only 45 minutes away from my house so my mother and sister can come and see me play,” he said.  “Basketball wise their style fits the way I play and I think I can come right in and make an immediate difference.”

Ultimately, the close proximity to Coleman’s home in West Roxbury, Massachusetts became a crucial factor for a couple of different reasons. 

First, Coleman is very close with his family.  In fact his mother, Laurel Cannon, made what is sure to be the first of many trips to the PC campus with her son on Sunday.  The mother/son connection is a very special one in this case as Cannon has really been both a mother and a father to Coleman over the years.  As a single mother of two children, she’s both worked to provide for them as well as to keep them on the straight and narrow path in a tough West Roxbury community.

“I am very happy,” Cannon told the New England Recruiting Report following her son’s commitment.  “I’ve just always tried to tell Gerard to think before he does things and then to follow his own path and I think he’s done that.”

Coleman has also showed plenty of maturity for a young man, as his decision also had a lot to do with life after basketball.

“Obviously a lot of guys want to go to the NBA or play overseas.  But because I’m staying close to home I’ll be able to get a job in this area when I’m done playing,” he said.  “I want to get involved in journalism and Providence has a really good program.” 

Coleman’s addition is a significant one for the Friars as they’ve made his recruitment a known priority since arriving in the Big East.  Now, they’ve landed a player who should be able to be an instant contributor.  He’s a pure scorer who slashes to the basket with the best of them and is fantastic in the open floor. 

But he’s also become much more versatile in recent years, becoming a much improved defensive player while showing toughness in all areas of his game.  Coleman was quick to give BABC head coach Leo Papile much of the credit for that development. 

“Leo definitely had a big part in my development,” Coleman said.  “I wasn’t aggressive when I first came to BABC and he rode me extra hard.  He got on me every day and then taught me how to use my length defensively.  He’s a great motivator.” 

Coleman’s time with the BABC program has been filled with numerous championships, both on the local and national levels, as he teamed with the UConn bound duo of Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel to make the squad one of the country’s best. 

This year the same threesome also starred together during the school season as they led the Tilton School to the NEPSAC Class B Championship as well as Cinderella type run to the National Prep Championship. 

Luckily for local fans that won’t be the last time the “Big Three” takes the court together as the UConn/Providence ticket just became a hot one for the 2010-2011 season. 

Of course that will be the first time they’re not wearing the same colored jersey.