CRESTVIEW — Jensis Coleman graduates from Crestview High School in a little more than a month. Later this summer she will head west to Bay Minette, Ala., to play basketball at Faulkner State Community College.
Coleman was joined by her parents and coaches past and future Friday as she signed scholarship papers to play point guard for the Sun Chiefs.
“It feels really good,” Coleman said. “I’m really happy about it.”
Coleman’s decision to sign at Faulkner State came down to one simple thing.
“I just like the school,” she said.
Crestview Coach Kathy Combest believes Coleman will do well at Faulkner State.
“I’m just so happy for her,” Combest said. “Jensis is a long-ball shooter. She’s a true point guard.
“Any where she goes she’s going to be able to play. And she’s going to bring a good fast game to that program. She’s got the speed and she can shoot the ball.”
Combest thinks Coleman will need to get a little stronger and maybe learn to get her jump shot off a little quicker, but other than that she’ll be fine.
Combest has seen Coleman improve by leaps and bounds in the three years she’s coached her.
“When I got here she couldn’t dribble as well as she does now,” Combest said. “And she couldn’t shoot the long ball. Now she’s deadly.”
Coleman credits Combest with getting her ready to play the college game.
She taught me everything,” Coleman said. “And now I’ll just be able to take my game to the next level.”
Faulkner State Coach Linda Pitts said signing Coleman was the finishing touch on her recruiting class this year.
“I was looking a true point guard,” Pitts said. “That was my last position to offer. I had probably seen four or five that I evaluated.
“When I saw her she was the perfect package – good attitude, good defense, good handler, good shooter and just a good demeanor for a point guard. She just had a total package.”
Pitts said she saw several other point guards play in Northwest Florida and she put Coleman right up there with the best in the area, which why she signed the Bulldog star.
Pitts said the biggest adjustments Coleman will have to make concern the speed of the game at the junior college level and learning the nuances of the Sun Chief schemes.
“Experience is the best thing,” Pitts said. “I think she will just improve on what she has right now.”
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's Coleman to play for Faulkner State (VIDEO)