LINCOLN — Of the seven Nebraska men’s basketball newcomers, Adrien Coleman is the newest.

The 6-foot-4 freshman wing from Stone Mountain, Ga., didn’t become available as a recruit until July, when the school with which he had signed a letter of intent — UAB — reneged on its offer.

Following a quick trip to Lincoln, Coleman committed in late July and arrived in late August with zero time to get acquainted before school started.

“It was a tough adjustment at first,’’ Coleman said. “But when I started being around the guys more, it got more friendly fast and I became one of the group.’’

Coleman also figured out something else fast.

Even though his resume screams “scorer’’ — averaging 16.1, 22.2 and 28.5 points in three high school seasons in the largest class in Georgia — playing defense for coach Doc Sadler will determine playing time.

“I can play defense,’’ Coleman said, then added with a smile, “but since I got here, my defense has gotten a lot better.

“I wasn’t always a big defensive player. But coming here, I’m getting way better at it.’’

Coleman and the rest of the Huskers will get to work on their defense and more when official team practices for the 2009-10 season begin today with a three-hour session starting at 5 p.m.

Another three-hour workout at 8 a.m. Saturday precedes the team’s appearance at the Husker Nation Pavilion at 1 p.m. for autographs and questions ahead of the Texas Tech football game.

Coleman said he’s excited to start practice, but even moreso after his summer of discontent at UAB, which he chose over interest from LSU, Clemson, South Carolina and South Alabama.

UAB made a midsummer change in its academic policy.

“So many people had flunked off the team,’’ Coleman said, “that the school raised the entrance rate.’’

Coleman, who had signed a letter of intent in November 2008 and was fully qualified by NCAA standards, got a phone call from a UAB assistant in July telling him not to come.

“I was in shock. It was a tough situation,’’ Coleman said.

But any hard feelings are lessening now.

“This is a better situation for me,’’ Coleman said. “This is a bigger setting. From the Big 12, you can go more places. And my goal is to get to the NBA, so this is the best deal.

“And the academic support was a big help, too. Everybody wants you to pass, and they’ve had a 94 percent graduation rate. My parents were happy to hear that.’’

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share