When Ryan Coleman took the boys basketball job at Milken in June, his first order of business was quite clear: convince his son, Grayson Coleman, to transfer from Calabasas High.
Initial discussions didn’t go well.
“When he first talked to me about coming to Milken, my initial thought was, ‘No way,’” Grayson said, laughing. “I wasn’t even sure why he’d bring it up to me.”
Ryan knew it was going to take a little more.
“I put a little NIL package together,” Ryan said in jest. “Some nice Kobes, an incentive-laden contract, he’ll earn more and more as he hits certain goals, per his contract.”
Grayson’s mother, Emily, wasn’t a huge fan at first either, Ryan and Grayson said.
“She was like me at first, we didn’t even think about considering it,” said Grayson.
Emily went to Milken, visited the school, did her homework on the school’s curriculum and gave her blessing.
“She loved the campus and academics,” Ryan said. “She left the basketball part up to Grayson and I.”
On August 8, it was official. Standout junior guard Grayson Coleman transferred to Milken.
In nearly all cases, this would be a CIF bylaw infraction, or two. But not when the coach and player are father and son, bonded by blood, or for the Colemans, bonded by something just as strong — basketball.
It’s been far from a storybook start with the Wildcats sitting at 4-7 through the first month of the season. But there’s a reason why.
“I put together a tough schedule to challenge ourselves and Grayson,” Ryan said. “There’s a new culture. I’m a new voice. I think the players are adjusting to me. The wins will come.”
Milken is playing programs it has never played historically, including Oaks Christian, Heritage Christian, Westlake, Thousand Oaks and Windward. The combined win-loss record of those teams is 42-11.
“I think the guys on the team are seeing the new standard we want to compete at,” Grayson said. “Playoffs is the main goal and these games are preparing us for that.”
Grayson is coming off a career-high 45-point game in an 84-72 loss to Windward. He’s averaging 25.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season as a junior. As a sophomore at Calabasas, he averaged 18.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
At Calabasas, Grayson was one of a few top players on the roster. At Milken, opponents are zeroing in on him more. He’s learning to adjust to life on and off the court.
“It’s been different, for sure. I feel more pressure. But I’m also putting bigger expectations on myself,” Grayson said. “The school part is much different, going from a big public like Calabasas to a small private like Milken — everyone knows each other.”
Despite the 4-7 start, Ryan Coleman knows what he’s doing. He came from Shalhevet, where he was the boys and girls basketball coach and was a combined 335-136, including 227-94 with the boys. He led the girls to a CIF State Division IV title in 2022.
Milken is in the Liberty League, which is comprised of five teams (Oakwood, Providence, de Toledo and AGBU). The top three teams are guaranteed a playoff berth. League play begins on January 8 against de Toledo at home.
Related Articles
L.A. Daily News All-Area Football Team for 2025 Thousand Oaks boys basketball shuts down Oxnard to stay unbeaten LA Daily News All-Area Girls Volleyball Team for 2025 Jerzy Robinson’s return from injury has been impressive on limited minutes LA Daily News girls athlete of the week: Jerzy Robinson, Sierra CanyonHence then, the article about coleman father son basketball duo at milken setting new program standard was published today ( ) and is available on Los Angeles Daily News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Coleman father-son basketball duo at Milken setting new program standard )
Also on site :