Top 35 senior Matt Coleman has decision date in mind
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BENTON, Kent. -- One of the nation's top point guards, four-star floor general Matt Coleman, can see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to his recruitment. A decision between Duke, Stanford and Texas is nearing.
The senior at Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill had been expected to make a decision in the early signing period, but he needed more time and to get away from the stress to focus on the start of his final high school season.
"I just put it on pause a little bit, dialed it down so that I could focus on the beginning of the season," said Coleman, who ranks No. 32 in the 2017 Rivals150. "I was stressed out, my head was spinning back in late September and early October. I've been kind of laying low, but I'm still focused on Stanford, Texas and Duke."
Coleman has visited all three of his finalists and broke down each of them, beginning with Stanford.
"It's unique with the academics," said Coleman. "It is out in California and Coach Haase, it's his first year there, but he's got great experience from playing at Kansas and being under Roy Williams at North Carolina. They need a point guard but they have a solid team."
After the summer, the Blue Devils revved up their interest level and Coleman visited them twice before the start of the season.
"I talk to Coach Capel and he drills in my head that they needs true point guard," said Coleman. "Right now they are getting by because they have so many high level guys, but at the end of the day they say they need a true point guard to run the show.
"I went on an official visit and then I went there two weeks later for Countdown to Craziness and it was really nice."
With Texas, Coleman has a longstanding relationship with Shaka Smart that goes back to when Smart was at VCU. Coleman also played for Smart on USA Basketball's 18U team last summer.
"It's a thought and it's in the heart that knowing Shaka for so long, you've seen him around and you know that he's there," said Coleman. "Then, they are in need of a point guard right now because they are having some struggles."
Whatever his decision may be, Coleman has eliminated the stress and he thinks he should have it soon. The target date for deciding is only 10 days away.
"At the end of the day I just hope I get that feeling in my heart that I know that's where I need to be and that's where I want to go," said Coleman. "I've said December 15th for our ESPN game, if not then it will be January 16th for our next ESPN game."
