"I knew that he wouldn't ignore me," Coles pointed out. "I waited and that i persevered to improve on the courtroom and off the courtroom. He came back like he observed he would." Norris, now an assistant under Johnny Dawkins at central Florida, came again to Coles after the previous purple Storm celebrity's freshman season at Pensacola (Fla.) State school. Coles rewarded that loyalty by means of committing to the Knights on Tuesday.
"I'm nevertheless excited," Coles talked about Thursday. "I'm chuffed in regards to the position I put myself in. I feel it's an outstanding alternative." A 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward, Coles is the second Baltimore native to commit to UCF this month, joining former friends small forward Myles Douglas.
Coles, who helped Edmondson to the 2013-14 category 1A state championship as a junior, had based himself as a clear Division I talent by the point he turned into a excessive faculty senior. but devoid of an NCAA qualifying score, he grew to become a coveted JUCO prospect in its place. in keeping with Pensacola instruct Pete Pena, Norris became the one who tipped him off to Coles. "We have been very fortunate satisfactory to land him," Pena observed. "firstly, he's a heck of a competitor. He's going to play for his group to win. It doesn't be counted about what his numbers are. I don't be aware of how you could not be interested in that kind of attitude."
Coles referred to he became sold on Pensacola after Pena pitched him on getting his teachers in order as a whole lot as establishing his video game. On the court docket this previous 12 months, Coles averaged 10.4 aspects and seven.5 rebounds, taking part in in one of essentially the most competitive JUCO conferences in the nation. in the school room, Coles put himself within the right tutorial position to commit early – not a given for many junior college gamers.
The UCF coaches were obviously impressed with both points of Coles' building. Coles observed Norris "put within the notice" with Dawkins, and participant and educate struck up an outstanding relationship over the mobile. Dawkins, a former Duke superstar, NBA participant and Stanford educate, bought Coles on being part of some thing new and being a mismatch offensively in UCF's system.
"I simply desired to enter the season realizing what became forward of me, no longer expecting some thing larger or whatever thing smaller," Coles mentioned of his choice to commit early. "i thought it could be improved to have that in mind in its place of attempting to get right into a [specific] school. i assumed I'd play more advantageous knowing what I'm doing with my life after the season. I determined to make my decision."
Coles mentioned he's looking forward to living in Orlando, connecting with a fellow Baltimore native in Norris, and researching from a former pro in Dawkins. Pena, meanwhile, thinks it's a very good healthy for each events. "He's fully explosive. Kani has a forty-inch vertical, which is outstanding," Pena said. "He's a really effective rebounder. He rebounds with two palms; when it's in his hands, it's his. It's now not popping out. He's a superb defender, a pretty good ballhandler and creates well for his teammates. At his position, he's a matchup problem. He's going to take a big out on the perimeter. He handles the ball very, very well. His shot is becoming better every day. I suppose his most useful days are forward of him. I'm definitely, basically pleased with how a good deal he has grown up."
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