No Relaxing on This Player's Summer Vacation

Jordan Coleman had his way with more than a few opponents during the Marmonte League basketball season as he sliced to the basket for a slew of layups and rim-rattling dunks.

Nothing will be that easy again for the Calabasas High senior. The 6-foot-4-inch Coleman, who signed a national letter of intent in November with the University of Hawaii, has been preparing for college with that in mind as he works to better his overall game.

"There's always room for improvement as far as I'm concerned,'' said Coleman, who averaged 19.8 points per game as a senior and was the league co-player of the year.

"My goal is to be an impact freshman at Hawaii. They recruited me to play, not to sit on the bench. I'm confident I'll be able to come in and contribute right away.''

A primary focus is his mid-range game, sharpening the release on his jump shot.

''In high school, I was able to drive around everybody, but I know in college I can't do that. It's important for me to try to develop a shot, an outside shot, and be more consistent shooting,'' he said.

''Before, when I first started, I would shoot more of a set shot instead of jumping up and shooting. But I went over it with my trainer, and we are just trying to get it so I release it faster. I feel like it's getting a lot better.''

To get there, Coleman has been working out three or four days a week and putting up 200 to 300 shots per session. Progress has come quickly.

As a junior Coleman averaged 11.9 points per game. He became one of the top players in the San Fernando Valley as a senior, when he had eight games with 25 or more points, capped by a season-high 38 in a Marmonte League game against Thousand Oaks.

He also averaged 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.4 assists per game.

"Jordan was a leader in every way for us and he had himself quite a year,'' Calabasas coach Jon Palarz said. "He dominated. Opponents had no answer for his explosiveness. He's a tremendous athlete, and I think his speed and quickness distinguish him from everyone else around him.''

Similar results at the next level won't be easy to come by, at least not initially.

"Jordan will be challenged at Hawaii,'' Palarz said. "The game is a lot faster in college. That's just the nature of things in Division I. I'm not worried about him though. He's a smart player and will figure things out quick. As long as he hits the gym, he'll be fine. Jordan could end up growing a couple of more inches, and if he gains 20 or 30 pounds, he'll have the look and feel of an NBA player. Everyone had better start watching out then.''

Coleman is hoping that the work he is putting in now and will continue to put in throughout the summer will ease that transition to college basketball in the Western Athletic Conference.

"I didn't feel like I had a lot to prove as a senior,'' Coleman said. "I just went out there and played and things fell into place for me.

"At Hawaii, things are going to be different. I'm going to be up against some great players, and my goal is to develop into one of those great college players. I'm going to have to earn my spot on the team, and I won't stop working on getting better until I make it.''