March 2024 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
Athletes are selected as the Players of the Month for their athletic
accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact.
BRAD
COLEMAN
MILLINGTON
BASKETBALL
MIA
MCLAUGHLIN
FRANKENMUTH
BASKETBALL
BRAD COLEMAN’S MILLINGTON BASKETBALL
CAREER SAW HIM ON VARSITY AS A 5-FOOT-8,
130-POUND FRESHMAN. NOW, A JUNIOR, COLEMAN
HAS TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS
IN THE THUMB AND HAS A CHANCE TO GO DOWN AS
PERHAPS THE TOP PLAYER MILLINGTON HAS EVER
SEEN.
“He was kind of thrown onto the varsity team as a freshman
out of necessity,” said Millington coach Brandon Coleman,
who is also Brad’s father. “We needed a guard and he had
to work through the struggles of the bigger, stronger, faster
players.”
Through hard work and natural maturation, Coleman is now
6-3, 170. “Every day, he has been focused on weightlifting,
what he eats and taking care of his body,” Brandon Coleman
said. “It’s been beneficial to take those guard skills and
translate it to a 6-3 frame. He gives us a lot of options and
the guys around him play so hard and well together.”
Through 19 games, Coleman had scored 469 points for a
24.7 points per game average, to go with 8.0 rebounds, 3.0
assists, while shooting 53% from the field.
With good health, Coleman has an opportunity to become
Millington’s all-time leading scorer. Austin LeVan has the
record at 1,714 points, with Coleman at 1,262.
The majority of Coleman’s points
come at the basket, or from mid-range.
“The mid-range game really developed
when he was a smaller freshman,”
Coach said. “He could beat guys off
the dribble, but once he got under
the basket, that’s dangerous territory.
So, the mid-range game became a
weapon.”
Coach Coleman credited AAU coach
Rodney Woods for developing Brad’s
ability to finish at the basket.
Coaching a son can be difficult, but
coach Coleman enjoys every moment. “This year I am trying
to enjoy it and make it fun. It’s been awesome to watch him
really take off and lead our team.”
FRANKENMUTH HAS HAD A LONG LINE OF TALENTED
GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS. MIA MCLAUGHLIN IS THE
LATEST TO JOIN THOSE RANKS. THE SENIOR WILL GO
DOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST SHOOTERS THE PROGRAM
HAS EVER SEEN.
A four-year player for the Eagles, she hit the ground running
as a freshman and never stopped. “The first time I got to
meet her, it was outstanding how advanced she was as an
eighth grader,” said Frankenmuth coach Joe Jacobs. “It was
early during her fresham year; we were playing No. 3-ranked
Bay City John Glenn on the road. She came down with three
seconds left and hit a game-tying 3, which sent us into
overtime, where we eventually won. The stage wasn’t too big
for her.”
Out of necessity, McLaughlin played point guard as a
freshman, but has flourished in her role as a shooter.
“She’s not really a point guard,” Jacobs
said. “She’s a kid who can catch and
shoot or catch and make decisions
based on of how people are defending
her.”
McLaughlin has scored over 1,000
points during her career. One of her
career highlights came this season
during a win at Birch Run, where she set
a new school record for 3-pointers in a
game, with nine.
Making that record even more
impressive is that it came in just over
two quarters of play, due to the margin
of victory.
McLaughlin will continue her career at Ferris State University.
Jacobs reflected on his time coaching her. “We’ve been
blessed with some pretty good basketball players,” he said.
"We’ll sit and think back about what a special career and player
she is. Kids like her don’t come along very often.”
Added Jacobs: “She’s been great for this program, she’s a
good leader on and off the floor. She’s everything I would want
my daughter to exemplify.”
ARTICLES BY PAUL ADAMS
4 March 2024 CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM
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