Transfer Portal Deep Dive: Charleston Southern Trent Coleman
Giving my personal thoughts on Charleston Southern forward Trent Coleman.
As the Transfer Portal, SearchSZN, and all of the other offseason festivities comes to an end. It’s time to start looking forward, WHILE also looking back as we dive into some of the new players for ALL 9 Big South teams.
For analysis: I will pick 3 games, 1 game that stood out as a GOOD game, 1 game that stood out as a BAD game, and 1 games that was average.
(If I can’t find 3 games, I will then go to portal film/shot charts and analytics)
Trent Coleman Background:
Coleman originally started his career at Southwest Mississippi State Community College, before transferring to North Florida playing for the Osprey’s for 2 seasons under Coach Matt Driscoll before moving to Auburn Montgomery for his most recent season.
During his time at North Florida Coach Driscoll said this about Trent Coleman:
"Trent Coleman resonated quickly with our program due to his ability to stretch the floor from three-point range, make plays off the bounce and defend all five positions on the floor. Trent's IQ for the game is not only evident when you watch him play on video, but also after talking through those game clips with him. His ability to recognize, dissect and explain what's about to transpire in the game is an amazing trait that he possesses."
Trent Coleman’s North Florida Stats:
Trent Coleman’s UAM Stats:
Trent Coleman Game Notes/Review:
Trent Coleman “Good Game”: 3/1/25 at West Florida
Stats: 20 Points (8-14 from the field, 4-7 from 3). 13 Rebounds, Played all 40 mins.
Notes:
Really good low post player, just seems to always find a good shot. Good sky hook.
Good heads up play with around 1 min left in the first half to box out defender to open a lane for driving teammate.
BIG paint presence, even if not directly affecting the play. With 17:09 left, forces a rebound out of a West Florida players hands directly to a teammate for an layup.
Pretty good shooter, especially for his size at 6’7”.
Trent Coleman “Average Game”: 1/4/25 vs Montevallo
Stats: 11 Points (3-6 from the field, 1-2 from 3), 7 Rebounds, Played 24 minutes
Notes:
Very good cutoff on a baseline cut in his first defense shift in, but then cuts cross to box out someone leading to an offensive rebound.
As mentioned above, very good shooter can’t be left open.
Very good help defender but also tends to over commit on helping leading to either open 3’s or an open lane if he switches.
VERY VERY physical defender, could very well get in foul trouble early if he’s not careful.
Has the foresight to make look ahead passes in transition.
Really good screener, big frame helps him create space for the shooter.
Trent Coleman “Bad Game”: 1/12/25 at Alabama Huntsville
Stats: 3 points (1-6 from the field, 0-3 from 3), 5 rebounds, Played 26 minutes
Notes:
Had James Harden-esque lapses on defense. ie, not attacking a cut, letting his matchup and get away.
Just like mentioned above, really good screener, but can lack the ability to recognize if he should cut or stay back and pop.
Again as mentioned above, really good help defender, makes any cutter (who he choses to help) have a tough layup.
Really big paint defender for his size.
Trent Coleman Analytics/Shot Charts Review:
Good Analytics Shooting:
Elite “Catch and Shoot” 3PT Shooter, 81.6% of career 3’s were assisted (84th percentile)
Good Analytics Rebounding:
Elite Rebounder, ranks in the Top 70th Percentile or higher in the following stats.
Def Rebounding Percentage (70th percentile last season)
Offensive and Defensive Rebounds/40 Off Missed Field Goals (Off. 75th, Def 79th)
Defensive Rebound Percentage off Missed Field Goals (71st percentile)
Defensive Rebound Percentage off Missed Free Throws (74th percentile)
Good All Consuming Metrics:
Win Shares: 2.1 (76th percentile)
Offensive Win Shares (88th percentile)
PER: 19.2 (75th percentile)
WARP/Wins Above Replacement Player: 3.2 (83rd percentile)
Bad Analytics:
Net Plus/Minus: -115 (8th percentile)
Defensive Wins Shares/40 Mins: 0.02 (10th percentile)
Most Advanced Defensive Metrics (2nd to 37th percentile)
Shot Chart Review:
(Left Chart is shooting percentages.) (Right Chart is shot diet.)
Left Chart Notes:
Really good 3PT shooter, as has been the theme for this, 36.3% ATB and 41.7% from the corner (on limited shot volume as seen on the right chart and by shot numbers).
Really has a hot spot inside the paint shooting 61.4% (18.3% above the D2 average).
Pretty average shooter at the rim, only 0.3% higher than the D2 average of 61.9%.
Overall Reaction/Thoughts: Should be a pretty good paint shooter and P&R Shooter, especially with what the film has helped concur.
Right Chart Notes:
Really understands where he is best, taking most of his shots in the Mid Range/Paint area and ATB Threes.
Ranks in the 8th percentile in shots at Rim only taking 17.7% of his shots there (D2 average is 31%).
Overall Reaction/Thoughts: Trent clearly understands his rule and where he shoots the ball best, not taking low percentage looks (ie at the rim), could use a few more corner shots but as he mainly operates in the P&R that is unlikely.
Trent Coleman Final Thoughts:
When I originally started looking into Coleman, I thought he was the Taje replacement, but that has become clear that is NOT going to be role despite sharing a similar size to Taje.
After looking at all this, I think this addition covers the loss of Taje Kelly and at the time I am writing this, loss of DJ Patrick.
He provides the shooting skills of DJ Patrick but seemingly more efficient, while also having more of a rebounding upside nearing Taje Kelly levels. Should be an elite pick and pop shooter for Alahn Sumler, Luke Williams and Amari Carraway to use either to create lanes to the basket, or create an open shot for Coleman.
Overall, very good addition for a Charleston Southern team that is returning Reis Jones and Alahn Sumler (coming off an injury).