Caleb Coolman – Penn Basketball
Penn’s Caleb Coolman was nominated for the Sports Illustrated National Freshman Player of the Year in Boys Basketball. He finished second in the nation with 3,656 votes (25.14 percent).
The 6-foot-4 Kingsmen Point Guard was one of 20 candidates in the nation up for the prestigious award, and was the only player from Indiana on the ballot.
Coolman is the first Freshman named First-Team all-NIC in more than 50 years. He might be the first Freshman All-NIC First-Team selection ever, but NIC records aren’t available prior to the 1970-71 season.
Caleb Coolman Photo & Video Galleries posted below.
The Northern Indiana Conference is one of Indiana’s elite conferences. NIC Boys Basketball alums include Penn graduate Markus Burton, who was named Mr. Basketball in 2023. Burton leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring this season, and was the ACC Rookie of the Year last season. Current NBA players Jaden Ivey (Marian) and Blake Wesley (South Bend Riley) played in the NIC, as did former Purdue greats Jaraan Cornell (South Bend Clay) and Brandon McKnight (South Bend LaSalle).
Coolman is ranked No. 1 in Indiana for FT percentage, and led Penn in points (15.6), rebounds (6.0), assists (4.8) and steals (2.0).
Coolman set the Penn record for most points by a Freshman on the Varsity with 391 points this season.
Caleb Coolman video highlights:
