As Dajuan Coleman walked out of the Carrier Dome tunnel on Saturday, fans leaned his way to ask for photos and autographs. They soaked in the moment, perhaps watching Coleman for the final time step onto the court. One hour and 20 minutes before Coleman’s final regular season game in the Dome, cheers from the community that raised him wouldn’t let Coleman’s name fade as easily as his knees.

Doctors told Coleman after his second major left knee surgery in fall 2014 that he’d never play basketball again. Still, he recovered well enough to play in all 37 games last season. This year, as his body wore down, he’s played in only 17 games. But the former five-star recruit chose Syracuse over Kentucky out of Jamesville-DeWitt (New York) High School because he wanted to play at home. He wanted to have moments like he experienced on Saturday.

“This is my hometown. This is my favorite team growing up,” Coleman said. “… That was the main thing that motivated me (after injuries). Just getting back to playing, the fans, just being in the Dome.”

Coleman never lived up to the reputation he entered college with. He became a McDonalds’ All-American, earned Mr. Basketball in New York and checked in as ESPN’s 14th-best player nationwide in the 2012 recruiting class. But Coleman’s game-changing potential remained just that.

His career averages: 15.4 minutes, 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

The player is often mistaken for Syracuse legend Derrick Coleman’s relative entered college as the local kid with high expectations. But the 6-foot-9, nearly 300-pound frame that allowed him to dominate high schoolers became his hamartia. His body broke down, slowly at first and then all at once. Coleman missed 22 months rehabbing after surgeries to repair a torn meniscus and cartilage damage in the same knee. His fight to return to the court despite his significantly lessened abilities transformed him into one of, if not the most, well-respected players in the Orange’s locker room.

The hometown hero became a tragic one.

“I think he could have been a really good player, but not with those knees,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. “When it happened, they told me he would not be able to come back and play. That was it. Period. No questions about it. … He somehow played through this just on sheer will and determination because when you see him now, he can’t move in practice. He literally can’t get up and down.

“It’s sad to see.”

Daily Orange File Photo

But Coleman doesn’t see his career as a disappointment. He’s one of two players in SU history to have played on two Final Four teams. When he goes to the grocery store or Destiny USA, fans recognize Coleman like they have since the ninth grade.

He doesn’t visit home often because his parents live in a one-bedroom apartment. Coleman stays in close contact with the people who have helped him since the beginning. Growing up, Coleman played at the Boys and Girls Club on Hamilton Street on Syracuse’s West Side, about a 10-minute drive from the Dome. His love for basketball grew by watching Gerry McNamara and Eric Devendorf play at Madison Square Garden in Big East tournaments. After meeting coaches and players during a camp in middle school, Syracuse became a top option and it stayed that way.

“I think people forget loyalty,” said Dieudonne Tierre, a close friend of Coleman’s since both attended Frazier Middle School. “It will make you or break you. If you’re loyal to the right person in life, you should be good. I learned that from Dajuan.”

During his 22-month layoff, Coleman confided in Tierre that he didn’t think recovery was working. Using crutches to get around, Teirre said, became rehab’s toughest challenge for Coleman. The monotony of doing the same thing every day for nearly two years wore him down. Coleman felt frustrated and wanted to change the routines. But a Syracuse trainer convinced the center to stay patient, asking for just one more day, day after day.

Coleman finally worked back as a redshirt junior in 2015-16, and he started every game to chip in for the Orange’s Final Four run. This season, Coleman has appeared in only four conference games, totaling 39 minutes without really being able to run and jump.

“It was definitely a grind,” Coleman said. “I did what I could do. I gave it my all.”

Coleman misses his injury-free days, unhindered by issues out of his control anyway. He’d hoped for more playing time. But to help his teammates, whom he considers family, Coleman accepted whatever role helped the most.

Inked on his right bicep is one of his favorite tattoos. It reads “F.O.E.” for Family Over Everything. On his left bicep, another: “Loyal.” Then there’s one of a lion head. That one speaks for itself.

“You put Dajuan anywhere, he’s going to survive,” Tierre said. “You put him in the jungle, he’s going to come out with a fur coat.”

Daily Orange File Photo

Coleman also wants to build up his clothing line, “Night Grind.” He took the name inspired by his career arc. Coleman hasn’t thought much about the next step, though, because he likes to finish one project before starting another and he said giving up on basketball never entered his mind.

No matter how hard he worked, no matter how positive he felt, Coleman has never become the player so many, including himself, hoped for. And that’s never stopped him from trying.

“It’s a special type of person to be able to do that,” fifth-year graduate transfer John Gillon said. “He’s been here, and it’s just tough. It makes me emotional just talking about it. I have the most respect for him out of anybody on our team.”

In high school, opposing fan bases taunted Coleman to try and throw him off his game. Jamesville-DeWitt’s best player had a national reputation. The jeers showed respect. After games, fans of both teams formed a line for photos and autographs, one like Coleman saw five years later at his last regular-season home game with the program he always dreamed of playing for.

With about six minutes remaining in Syracuse’s blowout win against Georgia Tech, SU’s student section chanted: “We want Coleman!” Nearly the entire crowd joined in.

Five years later, everything was different but nothing had changed.

Coleman’s career has reached heights and endured downfalls, but he never turned his back on a community he trusted to never turn its back on him. On Saturday, he walked onto the floor with three minutes left in front of Syracuse, and it didn’t matter that he didn’t record a stat.

“You can’t really put a price tag on that,” Coleman said.

 

Published on March 7, 2017 at 11:33 pm

Contact Paul: pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds