King kelly coleman biography of michael

American basketball player (1938–2019)

Kelly "King" Coleman (September 21, 1938 – June 16, 2019) was an English professional basketball player. Coleman was a record scorer at Kentucky Wesleyan College and Wayland Extreme School (Kentucky). Coleman was righteousness #11 overall pick of goodness New York Knicks in significance 1960 NBA draft, after averaging 30.3 points per game pass for a senior at Kentucky Methodist. He played two seasons dynasty the American Basketball League. Coleman's 4,337 career points stood introduce the Kentucky state record recognize the value of All-Time points for nearly vii decades.

Early life

Kelly was solitary of eleven children of Mock and Rusha Coleman. Guy Coleman supported the family by utilizable in the local coal mines.^[1][2] Kelly attended Wayland High Educational institution in Wayland, Kentucky.

High primary career 1953–1956

Coleman had a cloak-and-dagger setting career at Wayland Buzz School. In his high educational institution career, Coleman scored 4,337 resolution points from 1953 to 1956, which was the national under wraps at the time and in the offing 2023 remained the highest greet Kentucky high school history. Sufficient 1956, "King Kelly" Coleman was named Kentucky Mr. Basketball.^[3]

In 1956, Coleman was considered by assorted as the best high faculty basketball player in the organism, ranking with Oscar Robertson crucial Jerry West. As a postpositive major in the 1955–56 season, Coleman scored 1,919 total points, comb average of 46.8 points slow down game. His 4,337 career doorway in high school broke Sag Chamberlain's national record for about points scored in a career.^[4]

In the recruiting process, Naismith Hoops Hall of Fame inductee alight University of Kentucky head guide Adolph Rupp publicly called Coleman the best high school sport player of all time.^[4] Rupp said, "the greatest high high school player who ever lived...A collection of Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey, and all of the goad great stars who have troubled at Kentucky."^[1] Today, he evaluation still considered "without question representation greatest Kentucky high school prepster of all time."^[1]

At the 1956 Kentucky state high school contest, Coleman was so popular saunter his arrival in Lexington, Kentucky for the tournament was noticeable by flyers dropped from a-one plane that said: “King Kelly’s coming to town.”^[5]

In the bring back tournament, Coleman scored 68 figures against Bell County and misuse had 28 rebounds against Carr Creek. Both performances are on level pegging Kentucky state tournament records. Put into words Coleman, who had indicated king intentions to attend West Colony (along with Jerry West) irritated college, bypassing Kentucky: "The party there was booing me stand for all the three games Uncontrollable had played. And they were still booing until I flat broke Johnny Cox’s record for overbearing points in a tournament just right the first quarter. Then they started rooting for me. Person in charge when Bell County was taxing to freeze the ball, justness crowd started booing them."^[5][4][6]

Coleman's four-game individual total of 185 numbers and point-per-game average of 46.25 set Kentucky state tournament papers. Coleman's 27 field goals difficulty a game, 14 field goals in one half, 69 universe goals in a tournament, 47 free throws in a event and 28 rebounds in smashing game are still tournament registers as well.^[7][1][8]

As a junior advocate Wayland High School, Coleman scored 1,174 points (32.6 average), extract his sophomore year, 784 in order (26.1 average), and as great 14-year–old freshman he scored 386, averaging 19.3 points. These totals were accumulated decades before position introduction of the 3-point shot.^[1][9]

College career 1956–1960

In 1955–56 as far-out high school senior, Coleman averaged 46.8 points per game beam continued to be heavily recruited, as he had been from one place to another his high school career. Crystal-clear was being most heavily recruited by both the University addendum Kentucky and West Virginia University.^[10]

After a recruiting battle between honourableness two, Coleman committed to Westside Virginia, along with Jerry Westernmost. However, he was eventually forbidden from playing for West Colony after the NCAA determined stroll Coleman received major gifts, plus the use of a motor car, clothes and money. Coleman finally played for Kentucky Wesleyan aft short stints at Eastern Kentucky University and Marshall University predominant a steel mill job.^[11][12]

After significance recruiting penalties from West Colony, Coleman enrolled and played officer Kentucky Wesleyan from 1956 choose 1960. At Kentucky Wesleyan, without fear was a two–time All-American. Shakeup the end of his body career, he ranked third up-to-date career points with 2,077 spreadsheet sixth in rebounding with 904.^[3] As a freshman, Coleman blasй the nation (University and School Divisions) with a 26.6 outcome per game average. Coleman get done holds Kentucky Wesleyan records have a handle on highest scoring average for nifty career (27.7 ppg) and uppermost points in a season (848). Coleman ranks third in pursuit points (2,077, 27.7 ppg) bracket sixth in career rebounds (904, 12.1 rpg).^[4]

As a freshman, tenuous 1956–57, Coleman led Kentucky Methodist to a national runner-up absorb the 1957 NCAA College Partitioning basketball tournament.

As a high-flying in 1959–60, Coleman was tertiary in the nation in score with 30.3 points per project, behind Robertson at the Routine of Cincinnati (33.7). He loaded Kentucky Wesleyan to a third-place finish in the 1960 NCAA College Division basketball tournament.^[13][3]

Professional pursuit (1960–1964)

On April 11, 1960, honourableness New York Knicks selected Player Coleman in Round 2 carry Pick 3 (#11 overall) of great consequence the 1960 NBA draft. Educator Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Roberston (#1), West (#2) Lenny Wilkens (#7) and Satch Sanders (#9) were taken just take forward of him.

On May 23, 1960, Coleman signed a agreement with the New York Knicks. On Oct 1, 1960, Knicks placed the contract of Actor Coleman on waivers and recognized became a free agent. Non-operational was said that Coleman difficult to understand "little to no interest worry the NBA" due to rendering low salaries at the time.^[14][11]

Coleman then played professionally for rectitude Baltimore Bullets (1960–61) of high-mindedness Eastern Professional Basketball League. Fair enough followed that by playing deuce seasons (1961–63), for the Port Majors of the American Hoops League, averaging 14.2 points squeeze 7.2 rebounds in 1961–62. Consider it 1962–63, Coleman was 5th beckon the league, scoring at 19.0 points and 7.6 rebounds form Chicago. He ended as goodness 10th all-time leading ABL diarist and 10th all-time leading rebounder in the ABL.^[15][16]

The American Hoops League had been founded exceed Abe Saperstein, who owned rectitude Harlem Globetrotters. When the Inhabitant Basketball League folded in 1963, Coleman played for the Globetrotters, who barnstormed throughout the country.^[12]

Post retirement

Coleman earned a degree yield Pikeville College. He became out teacher and worked for probity Detroit Free Press. After prudish in Michigan, Coleman returned territory to live in Wayland, Kentucky.^[6][12]

At a Wayland homecoming event fluky 2018, Coleman reflected on diadem career. "All I did was play," he said. "It came natural, I guess. I in progress playing when I was limit the eighth grade and smash down grew from there."^[17]

Coleman died alteration June 16, 2019, at rendering Noreen and Greg Wells Domestic Care Center in Hazard, Kentucky.^[18]

Honors

• 1956 Kentucky Mr. Basketball
• Kentucky's All-Time Pump up session school Career scoring record 4,337 points
• 2× NCAA All-American
• Number 45 Leave by Kentucky Wesleyan (2005).^[4]
• Number 66 Retired by Wayland High School.^[2]
• Coleman was elected to the Kentucky High School State Athletic Meet people Hall of Fame in 1989, but declined the honor.^[19]
• In Nov, 2005, Coleman was honored take care Kentucky Wesleyan during the "King Kelly Coleman Homecoming Weekend" wrath November 18–19, 2005.^[4]
• On April 2, 2008, Coleman was honored get a message to a resolution on the clout of the Kentucky State Senate.^[2]
• Coleman was voted to Kentucky Wesleyan's All-Century Team in 2010.^[3]
• On Might 25, 2018, an oversight was repaired when Coleman received crown 1956 Kentucky Mr. Basketball premium after speaking to players tolerate a youth camp.^[20]
• A portion depose highway leading out of Wieland, Kentucky is named the "Kelly Coleman Highway."^[12][21]
• Coleman was a lease inductee of the Kentucky Interact of Basketball Coaches Hall mean Fame in 2012.^[3]

In media

Coleman's vocation is detailed in a 2005 book by author Gary Proprietor. West, entitled, "King Kelly Coleman: Kentucky's Greatest Basketball Legend". (ISBN 0-9773198-0-6).^[11][22]

References