Coleman Talks With Steve Irvine about Tenure at UAB and Latest On Transfer
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - April 5, 2025
The UAB chapter in Christian Coleman’s well-documented journey from Walmart to college basketball success came to a close on March 26 in Irvine, California. Coleman decided to move on from UAB soon after the NIT quarterfinal loss to eventual finalist UC Irvine.
In two seasons at UAB, the 6-foot-8, 215-pound Coleman averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds while playing in 72 games with 42 starts. Some of his best work came during the three NIT games when he averaged 19 points and nine rebounds. He had six double-doubles during the 2024-25 season.
Coleman, who played at NAIA member LSU Alexendria and South Plains (Texas) Community College before coming to UAB, has one more season of college eligibility. The 24-year-old Coleman is currently trying to decide whether to begin a professional basketball career or sign with one of the schools showing interest in him after entering the transfer portal.
Coleman talked with The Banner on Thursday about his time at UAB and what is ahead.
What did your time at UAB mean to you as a person and a player?
“Well, it helped me grow as a player, helped me grow on and off the floor. AK taught me a lot. Coach Cross too. It was just a family-oriented program that I really loved to be a part of. I'm glad I got the opportunity because coming from where I came from, not too many people get the opportunity like I did. I was just grateful for the moment.”
What do you think you’ll remember most from your time at UAB?
“I was a winner. I was the one who worked hard. I always got in the gym, I always was a good person. I was a people person, a lot of people know me, a lot of people love me. I was mostly a winner.”
You finished your UAB career with three of your better games while playing in the NIT. Did you have a bigger sense of urgency, knowing your time at UAB was done once you lost in the tournament?
“Yeah, it definitely was a different approach, a different feeling because we had just lost to Memphis. I feel like I was the reason why we had lost because I didn't have a good game. I had a horrible game. I didn't play to my standard. So when we got into NIT, I was just like, man, I’m just going to go hard every rep. That way I can help us win as many games as possible. I felt we should have been in the (NCAA) Tournament and I felt like I let the team down.”
Was it a difficult decision to leave UAB and seek other opportunities?
“It kind of was a tough decision on my part because I have a daughter (in Birmingham). I don’t want to leave my daughter. But, I talked to the coaches and we felt like it was the best decision for me to just go ahead and leave. I did a lot while I was at UAB. I was in the community. I was a great player. I just felt like my time just was up down there, but I felt like I had a good little run. Me and the coaches felt like I had a good little run. They just wanted me to expand my horizons in the basketball world.”
Right now, are you leaning toward finding another college program or becoming a professional basketball player?
“Well, to be honest, if I get an opportunity to get in the pros and handle my business, I'm definitely taking that opportunity. But if all that fails, I’m I'm definitely going to go back to school and use my last year. I don’t want to get lost in the system or get stuck or anything like that. I want to play basketball until I can’t play no more. I just want to make sure I just handle my business with the (NBA Draft) process. If that works out, but if that don't, I want to go back to school.”
Have you had a lot of schools reach out to you with opportunities?
“Yeah, I got a few. There are a couple of Big 12 schools, one SEC right now. There are some American Conference schools and ACC. That’s pretty much (the main ones) right now.”
What steps are you taking in the draft process?
“When I get into the process, I will try to see if they let me go to the combine, because of my age. Then if they don't, I'm going to try to get in the (Portsmouth Invitational). It's the same thing that Trey Jemison, Jelly (Walker), Eric (Gaines) played in. I will try to get in that to play against some of the best players out of college to showcase my talent. If I do good, I probably can move up. My agent is talking to them.”
What has it meant for you to play with Yaxel Lendeborg the past two years?
“I mean, that's my brother, at the end of the day. He helped me on and off the court. Off the court mostly because he showed me how to be a people person, get to the fans and get in the community and stuff. I’m the type of person I like being by myself. I like being in my own space. When I started hanging around him, I started seeing how much love he gets. And then me, hanging around him, that was showing me love, too. I really thank him for that because he kind of helped me get out of my shell and helped me be a people person and helped people approach me. Some people probably want to post me because they thought I was a bad person, but I'm a good person at heart. Just being around Yax, I learned a lot. I’m just thankful for that dude. He taught me a lot of stuff off the court, he taught me a lot of stuff on the court.”
How much do you reflect on your journey from a Walmart employee to chasing a professional basketball dream?
“I reflect on it a lot because it gives me motivation and it helps me to keep going. Like right now, I came home (to Winnsboro, Louisiana) so I can remember where I come from. That's like, you know, all the stuff that I tried to do to change. That just kind of just fuels me, gives me motivation. I just needed that (reflection) for me to just keep going. I came a long way and I don’t want to stop right now. I just want to keep going and just keep working hard and keep fueling off what I’ve been through in my past.”
What do you think Andy Kennedy and the staff mean to you in this part of your journey?
“I look at him and Cross as like father figures, because they helped me on and off the court, a lot more than people will know. He always took me under his wing. You know how animated he is. I love that because I’ve never been part of a winning program. He brought that to my attention. He showed me what a winner is. I like winning. I’m a competitor, at the end of the day, I like winning. He showed me how to be a winner, so wherever my next spot is at I know how to be a winner. I just thank him 100 percent.”