The Portland State basketball program has filled a vital need with the signing of Terry Coleman to a national letter of intent for the 2010-11 academic year. Coleman, who will be a junior, should step into a key role at point guard filling the absence of senior Dominic Waters.

Coleman is a 5-11 guard who played at Sullivan County Community College in New York in 2009-10. As a sophomore, he averaged 14.1 points, 6.9 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Coleman was an accurate shooter as well, hitting .523 from the field, .459 from three-point range and .732 at the free throw line.

"Terry is a kid who we have been following since his senior year in high school,” said Viking Head Coach Tyler Geving. “We went out to New York during his senior season to watch him play so he is a kid we are very familiar with and have been following his career since."

Coleman is originally from Newburgh, NY where he attended Newburgh Free Academy.

"We were in need of a junior college point guard to fill the void of Dominic Waters graduating and we are expecting Terry to play a big role for us next season,” added Geving.

"One thing that stands out about Terry is his toughness which we need to add to next year's team.  He's a competitive kid who comes from a successful community college and a successful high school program."

Waters was a two-time All-Big Sky Conference performer for the Vikings. He averaged nearly 18.6 points and 4.8 assists per game for the Vikings in 2009-10.

Coleman will join a Viking team that has eight returning letterwinners and three returning starters ( Phil Nelson, Melvin Jones, Paul Guede). The Vikings also have two redshirts returning ( Nate Lozeau, Nigel Peter-Denman) who will be eligible to play in 2010-11, and signed two newcomers ( Chehales Tapscott, Brandon Cataldo) during the fall signing period.

The addition of Coleman gives Portland State 14 players on its roster for 2010-11. Coach Geving anticipates signing another student-athlete this spring.

NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEE (April 23, 2010)
Terry Coleman, G, 5-11, 180, Newburgh, NY (Newburgh Free Academy/Sullivan CC) – junior in 2010-11

NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEES (November 12, 2009)
Brandon Cataldo, C, 6-10, 270, Rainier, OR (Rainier HS) - freshman in 2010-11
Chehales Tapscott, F, 6-5, 210, Hillsboro, OR (Century HS/Clackamas CC) - junior in 2010-11

SIGNED AID AGREEMENT WITH PORTLAND STATE (April 20, 2010)
Michael Harthun, G, 6-3, 185, Medford, OR (South Medford/Washington State) - junior in 2011-12

PRONUNCIATIONS
Michael Harthun: har-TOON
Brandon Cataldo: kuh-TALL-doe
Chehales Tapscott: shuh-HAY-less (like the town in Washington)