Video: Coleman's massive dunk elevates his profile

NORTH LIBERTY - In one half Sunday afternoon, Joe Coleman's local basketball reputation turned from also-ran to wow, man.

Coleman, a Cedar Rapids Kennedy graduate and sophomore at Iowa Western Community College, took control of a Prime Time League quarterfinal game. He tied a game-high with 27 points and sank five of six 3-point attempts in the second half. While his statistics were impressive, it was one sequence midway through the second half that brought the packed house to its feet and the wow to the fans' lips.

Former Kennedy point guard Kaylon Williams ran a fast break and sizzled a one-handed, half-court bounce pass to Devyn Marble just to the right of the basket. Marble in turn tossed a no-look pass over his left shoulder around defender Kyle Meyer and to a streaking Coleman, who then elevated for a right-handed dunk over Adam Woodbury.

Wow, man.

“(Marble) threw me the ball, and I let God bless me to the rim,” Coleman said.

Coleman wagged his tongue after the slam and his confidence was contagious. That wasn't always the case this summer. A week before PTL action, Coleman sprained an ankle that prevented him from playing until Sunday. He healed enough to compete in a junior-college showcase in St. Charles, Mo. on Saturday. On Sunday, it was showtime in North Liberty.

“I found my rhythm, came out with high defensive intensity and that contributed to my offense,” Coleman said.

Coleman, a 6-foot-5 wing, averaged 9.6 points a game for Kennedy his senior year. At Iowa Western, he started 26 of his team's 33 games, averaging 8.2 points a game. He shot 48.7 percent from the floor and 74.5 percent from the free-throw line. He also grabbed 5.0 rebounds, and dished 1.2 assists a game.

“Right now I'd say Joe is one of those guys who wasn't ready-made in high school,” said Coleman's father Jamie Pettigrew, who coaches the AAU's Iowa Barnstormers. “We knew he had potential. He was kind of a late bloomer.

“His first year at Iowa Western, the first part of the season, he really reached his defensive potential. He became a lockdown defender for them. The second half of the season, he kind of brought his offense into play and started shooting a lot. He's always been a good shooter, but he kind of had trouble putting it all together.”

Pettigrew said several schools are interested in Coleman, but their conversations revolve around fit more than prestige. Coleman received a scholarship offer from Texas-Pan American on Saturday.

“He wants to play at the highest level,” Pettigrew said. “I've told him you have to make the choice between playing at a high-major level and being in the top eight or going to mid-major and being a surefire starter. That's a decision he's going to have to make.”

Coleman said gaining consistency is crucial in his development at Iowa Western. That will determine his next location after his sophomore season.

“I think his confidence is at an all-time level,” Pettigrew said. “He knows he's a good player now. He knows he can compete with anyone, and you're kind of seeing the results of that right now.”