When you shake hands with the 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward from Roger Bacon High School (Cincinnati) it’s a little intimidating. In fact, JaBriel Coaston said that he intimidates most of the people he comes across.
“People say I look like I’m mean, like I’ll jump down their throat or something,” Coaston said. “But really I’m a nice, easy going guy.”
The 20-year-old Coaston is in his first year at Sinclair and is producing some nice numbers while studying Liberal Arts. He averages 14.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the Tartan Pride, according to National Junior College Athletic Association statistics.
He said that the strongest part of his game is being able to shoot the three at his size and being able to guard multiple positions.
He credits Sinclair head coach Jeff Price for making him a better basketball player in the short amount of time he has been at the school.
“He’s flexible with you,” Coaston said. “He’s not like most coaches that come down hard on you and make you think about a lot.”
He also credits Price for changing his game and freeing him from his machine-like high school system.
“[What I’ve picked up is] not playing like a robot,” Coaston said. “Roger Bacon was a lot of pass, cut, pass, cut. Now coming here he’s [Price] letting me handle the ball and get loose and be more explosive.”
Coaston is leading the team in rebounding, which has been a key area of concern for the Pride this season.
The lengthy forward said he gets his height from his father, who in his playing days was a 6-foot-11 University of Kentucky recruit.
Some of Coaston’s favorite activities, when he’s not playing basketball, include shopping and playing video games.
Most basketball players or athletes in general listen to music to get pumped up before the game. But for Coaston, he would much rather take a long nap and then drink his favorite smoothie.
“I like the werewolf smoothie,” Coaston said. “It’s strawberry, banana and whey protein.”
Another interesting fact about Coaston people don’t see on first glance, is that he has a comedic and goofy personality.
“When people are around me they say it’s hard to take me serious,” Coaston said. “I can be serious when I’m supposed to but, I just like to laugh.”
But all jokes aside, Coaston is proud to admit that he was raised by his grandmother and gives her full credit for shaping him into the man he is today.
“I lived with her all through high school and she always taught me to think ahead.”
Coaston has one more year of eligibility left at Sinclair and could very well be heading to a Division ı school after that season. One school of particular interest for Coaston is Butler University.
But for now, you can see Coaston and all the Tartan Pride basketball players take on Edison Community College at home on Feb. 15