Junior transfer Maddison Coleman playing in a game against Cosumnes River college in 2019// Photo courtesy of Dianne Kay Photography By Izzy Shelton-Smith The Western women’s basketball team announced that transfer student Maddison Coleman will be joining the Vikings this 2019-20 season. The guard recruited from Sacramento City College said she wants to bring whatever she can to the Vikings. Coleman has been playing basketball for nine years. When Coleman was in fifth grade, her cousin Hailey Reid, who at the time was in sixth grade, suggested the two try out basketball. They had always played sports together and basketball was the one they had yet to try. Coleman says she has been playing the game ever since. “She’s a really good player,” Reid said. “I can always count on her to be there if I needed her for a pass, shoot, rebound or anything.” Reid and Coleman say they have been teammates from the start of Coleman’s basketball career, starting in elementary school, then on the same middle school team and following in high school at El Camino High School in Sacramento. According to Coleman, other universities including Humboldt State University and William Jessup University were also interested in recruiting her to their basketball programs. Coleman said she decided Western would be the best fit for her because of the welcoming team and the coaches. "We are excited about the different dimensions [Coleman] will add to our program… she is a good shooter and runs the court well, but her passing ability is what impressed us the most." head coach Carmen Dolfo said, according to a press release posted on July 15 announcing Coleman’s signing onto the Vikings. The coaching style of the team was another reason Coleman decided the Vikings would be the right team for her. She said they coached the way she liked to be coached. “They don't like scream at you, but you can tell they're hard… they're just like, ‘Hey, you did good. But like, pick it up here,’” Coleman said. Coleman has been able to work with the team over the last month and she participated in camp by coaching kids for part of the day while also going to open gym, according to Western student and teammate Dani Iwami. “I think [Coleman will] bring some height, some energy, talent and ball awareness,” teammate Kelsey Rogers, said. “All around a strong player to add to our team that I’m excited about and looking forward to what the future will bring.” According to Iwami and Rogers, Coleman has good court vision which enables her to see passing lanes, passes other players might not have seen. Iwami also said that Coleman has a high basketball IQ, which means having a good understanding of the game. “I think she’ll be a really good addition, in the sense of, socially, she's very energetic and fun to be around so she’ll bring that element,” Iwami said. “On the court, [Coleman] is a really good shooter, and she passes the ball well, so that’ll be fun for her to play an up-tempo game, which we try to play at Western.” Coleman said that she aspires to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association, or to play overseas. Reid believes that Coleman can do whatever she sets her mind to, any goal she makes. “I’m looking forward to the team unity, they’re such a big family and they really hype each other up. That’s different than what I'm used to,” Coleman said. “When we’re just sitting on the bench of the baseline, everyone is cheering for each other. They’re always super energetic and… I love that.”
