Les Miles connection? Louisiana 2-sport prospect keeps KU on list of potential colleges
Keon Coleman, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior football/basketball player from Opelousas (Louisiana) Catholic High School, has narrowed his list of college contenders to Kansas, South Carolina and Oklahoma, he reported via Twitter.
Coleman, who caught 35 passes for 1,143 yards (32.7 yards per catch) and 22 touchdowns in his junior season, on Monday cut Michigan State, Florida State and Mississippi from his previous list of six schools.
A four-star football recruit who plans on walking on the basketball team at one of his three finalists, Coleman also received football scholarship offers from Baylor, Louisville, Miami, Kentucky, Penn State and several other schools. In basketball, the unranked player received offers from Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State, Coastal Carolina and Louisiana-Lafayette.
He recently took part in a recruiting call with KU football and hoops coaches.
“Coach (Les) Miles said I can make an impact on the football team and coach (Bill) Self said I could do the same for basketball,” Coleman told Jayhawkslant.com.
“It shows that they want me for both sports,” he added. “I like them a lot. It’s a good opportunity. They are all good people. Coach Miles was telling me he wants to help me get that Heisman.”
Coleman said Self told him: “I do a lot of things you can’t really teach. He said I’m a fast-twitch player and said I was quick.”
Of Coleman, Gabe Brooks of 247sports.com wrote: “”Owns terrific frame for elite wideout prospect. Tall and long with a ton of frame space to add bulk. Dynamic, explosive athlete who competes in football, basketball, and track and field. Division I-caliber prospect in football and basketball. Electric leaper. Produces highlight reel dunks on the hardwood and impressive ball-winning plays on the gridiron. Big-play machine. Also dominant at defensive back with seven INT’s. Not only explosive but shows encouraging dexterity as an athlete. Long-striding speed-builder who stretches the field vertically. Plays fast enough but can get faster in his long speed. Will face significant jump in competition going from small-school ball to high-major level. Raw technically in footwork and route-running. Basketball nimbleness does not always translate to field. Regardless, elite athlete with very promising overall profile. Power 5-caliber recruit who possesses a high ceiling with long-term potential to reach the NFL Draft.”
KU football offers brother of Jalen Wilson
Jace Wilson, the brother of KU redshirt freshman basketball player Jalen Wilson, has been offered a football scholarship by KU coach Miles.
Wilson, a 6-5 ,195-pound junior wide receiver out of Guyer High in Denton, Texas, made the announcement on Twitter.
“Wilson is a tough kid who likes attacking the basket in perimeter or in transition and is not afraid of using his body to initiate contact. He rebounded the ball well for his position and played physical in the win over Timberview (last November),” Andre Powe of “Inside the Rim” wrote of Wilson the basketball player.
It’s possible Wilson will play both football and basketball in college.
Self praises incoming players in Class of 2020
KU hoops coach Self in a Twitter video has expressed great enthusiasm for the incoming recruiting Class of 2020: junior college transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, plus high school grads Bryce Thompson, Gethro Muscadin and Latrell Jossell.
Grant-Foster, a 6-7 shooting guard/small forward from Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game during his sophomore season.
Thompson, a 6-5 combo guard from Booker T. Washington High in Tulsa, Oklahoma, averaged 25.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and was named to the McDonald’s All-America Game in his senior season. The game itself was not played because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Muscadin, a 6-10 forward out of Aspire Academy in Louisville, averaged 12.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season. Jossell, a 6-foot point guard out of Central High in Keller, Texas, averaged 18.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in limited duty during an injury-shortened senior year
Thompson is ranked the No. 20-rated player in the recruiting Class of 2020 by Rivalscom; Muscadin is the No. 137-ranked player and Jossell is unranked.
“You know this past year was a great year, 28-3. We finished the season ranked No. 1 in the country,” Self said in the Twitter video. “But we knew going into the year we were going to lose three good players (Udoka Azubuike, Devon Dotson, Isaiah Moss).
“We go out and we sign Bryce Thompson, a McDonald’s All-American,” Self added in the video, “and Tyon Grant-Foster, No. 1-ranked junior college player in America that I think can certainly play at the highest of levels.
“And then of course Gethro and Latrell, who weren’t quite recruited as high as those other guys. But I think they both have unbelievable upside.”
Self noted that mobile big man Muscadin “is a running, jumping, rebounding, soft-hand dude that’s probably a little bit of time away but will be a very good player for us. We’ve had so many guys like Gethro go on and have fabulous careers.
“And then, of course, Latrell is quick, strong, tough and he can shoot,” Self said. “Even though he wasn’t the most highly rated youngster coming in, I think he can kind of have the biggest impact, based on what the expectations are of others of what he can do here.”
“Tyon and Bryce both have a chance to play at the highest level,” Self noted. “So we lost some good ones, but rest assured we’ve got some good ones coming.”
Reid may enter Class of 2020
Efton Reid, a 6-11, 235-pound senior power forward from The Steward School in Richmond, Virginia, who has Kansas on his list of schools, is considering entering college for the upcoming school year.
According to the Richmond Free Press, he has spoken with Michigan coach Juwan Howard about possibly playing for the Wolverines in 2020-21. Stockrisers.com indicated he has chatted with Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton about the possibility. KU has no scholarships available for the incoming class.
“It’s called classifying up,” Reid, the No. 24-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2021, told the Free Press. “It is something I’m considering but I haven’t made up my mind.”
He has made unofficial visits to Virginia, Louisville and Ohio State. KU offered a scholarship to Reid in April. Kentucky and Maryland are also on his list.
“Efton is a special player,” Steward School coach Curt Kassab told the Free Press. “He has the work ethic and drive along with the size and talent. He has been fun to watch and fun to be around. We’re all very proud of where he’s at.”
Reid averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds his junior year of high school. He hit 70% of his shots, including 41% from three-point range and 67% from the free-throw line.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Les Miles connection? Louisiana 2-sport prospect keeps KU on list of potential colleges."
