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It has never been Trent Coleman’s way to sulk or pout or be a bad teammate when things didn’t go his way on the court. He just wasn’t taught to play basketball that way.
So when Putnam Science Academy’s season restarted in February after a three-month pause, and eight new players showed up on the Prep team’s roster and squeezed most of Coleman’s minutes, he knew he had to keep a positive mind.
“You know, I would say it was my fault too. I wasn’t putting in the work the way I was supposed to,” Coleman said last week. “So about two weeks ago, I got a speech, and they told me what I need to get better on. After that, I started putting in the work. Now every morning, 5 a.m., 5:30, me and Bryce (Harris) go and work on those things.”
The result has been a bump in confidence coinciding with an opportunity to display it. Coleman had his best two games of the season this past weekend. Feb. 26, coach Tom Espinosa moved him into the playing rotation as the Mustangs were without Leon Williams and Elijah Hutchins-Everett. PSA won that game, 104-87, against Bridgeport Prep but Espinosa was not pleased with his team’s collective defensive effort. He did say Coleman was one of the few players he was happy with because of the way he was trying to communicate at that end of the floor.
Coleman played with energy on defense and hit some shots on offense, finishing with eight points. The Mustangs played again Feb. 27, and Espinosa called Coleman’s name earlier than he ever had. The 6-foot, 6-inch wing from Ridgeland, Miss., responded by playing with confidence and scoring 11 points, grabbing three rebounds, and handing out three assists. After making two-of-three 3-pointers Feb. 26, he felt good enough to put up six Saturday (though he made just one).
“He’s a team guy, he tries to do everything,” Espinosa said. “He’s a kid we love to have (because) he doesn’t complain if he plays zero minutes or 15 minutes. I gave him a little opportunity and he’s taken advantage of it. He’s really shooting the ball well, in practice and the last couple games. I went to him early (Saturday), and he responded.”
Said Coleman: “My confidence definitely went up after I hit a few shots. Even in practice, I’m a more confident person and taking more shots. It’s showing on the court.
“At the end of the day, I’m really just happy to be playing ball because there’s a lot of people not playing basketball right now. I mean, there are negatives, but the positives outweigh them for sure. I was taught to play basketball. Always be optimistic and think about the positives. So I just always have to be happy.”
In Friday’s win over Bridgeport Prep, Nana Owusu-Anane led the way with 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Harris added 18 points and six rebounds, and Mohamed Sanogo finished with four points and 12 boards.
The effort was better Feb. 27, a 100-69 victory against Overwin Academy. Harris had 21 points and five rebounds as PSA improved to 10-0. Alexis Reyes had 14 points and Owusu chipped in with 13 points.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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