Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Marvin Coleman leading UNLV in summer workouts

UNLV Rebels Lose to Boise State in Mountain West Tournament

Steve Marcus

UNLV Rebels guard Marvin Coleman (31) drives to the basket during a game against Boise State in the Mountain West tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center Thursday, March 5, 2020.

Marvin Coleman has come quite a long way since enrolling at UNLV. He arrived on campus two years ago as a walk-on and has since earned (in order) playing time, a scholarship, and a starting spot. Now the Las Vegas native finds himself as the team’s incumbent point guard and vocal leader.

Coleman takes that role seriously, and has spent the long offseason trying to make sure UNLV would be ready to take the floor when the time came.

On Monday, he finally got to hoop with his teammates for the first time since March, as summer workouts officially commenced.

Coleman said it was invigorating to play basketball and feel like part of a team again.

“It felt tremendous just seeing the young guys on the court with guys like Moses [Wood], Bryce [Hamilton], David [Jenkins] and all of us just being together,” Coleman said. “It’s just fun. We’ve had so many Zoom calls with each other, trying to create that bond, so getting on the court has been great.”

Coleman has taken a leading role in communicating with his teammates throughout the offseason, especially working to help the freshmen and newcomers feel welcomed. Most of the team’s young players have cited Coleman as a ringleader for the Zoom calls, text chains and Snapchat conversations that have brought them closer together despite social distancing.

That work paid off, Coleman said, in helping everyone feel like a team since the day they arrived on campus.

“I think it has carried over,” Coleman said. “Even when the young guys moved in on moving day, we already knew each other. We were all social distancing with masks on, but we’re brothers. It’s not like we have to get to know each other like a first date. Everybody knows what everybody’s all about. We’ve built good relationships, and now it’s about learning how to play with each other.”

With the start of on-court practices, Coleman understands there is a need for a different type of leadership. Instead of being everyone’s buddy, he said his focus now is to set an example.

That means all-out hustle, executing every drill perfectly, and no complaining — even in the summer.

“I can’t have any bad days,” Coleman said. “I talk to coach T.J. all the time, because we look at him for energy. If the head coach can’t have bad days, then if I’m the point guard I can’t have bad days. If they see me slacking off, not touching the line or being late, I’m not setting that example. I can’t make any excuses.”

UNLV practicing at a distance

While players are practicing up to eight hours per week during the summer, UNLV is doing its best to adhere to health and safety protocols. Coaches, managers and anyone not directly involved in on-court activities are wearing masks and distancing from the players.

Those guidelines, in addition to regular testing, are enough for Coleman to feel safe while he’s on the floor.

“A hundred and ten percent,” Coleman said. “I have complete trust in our coaching staff and everybody above the staff. We get tested once a week and everyone who’s not practicing is wearing gloves and a mask to make sure we’re safe. The coaches are staying six feet apart and they all have masks and gloves. They all have to be a little louder to yell through the masks.“

The players are also doing their best to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19, as they wash their hands between activities.

“When we have water breaks every 10 to 15 minutes, we sanitize and make sure we don’t touch our faces,” Coleman said. “We use hand sanitizer after each drill. I feel very safe.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.

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