Aurora Central duo brings talent to floor
Coleman, Thomas like team’s “potential”
Two guys with out-ofstate roots are at home in the backcourt of the Aurora Central boys basketball team.
Senior guards Elijah Coleman and Ladarius Thomas have the Trojans off to an 8-4 start, with Class 5A/4A East Metro League play beginning Jan. 22.
Thomas, a native of Mobile, Ala., who relocated to Colorado between the fifth and sixth grades, is third in the league in scoring with an average of 19.3 points per game. He leads the league in steals with almost three per game. Coleman, who was born in Memphis, Tenn., and moved to Colorado from South Carolina in 2006, is fourth in scoring with 18.6 points per game.
Those numbers are not just a reflection of their athletic talent. They are byproducts of the players’ chemistry playing together.
“They’ve been starters together for three years,” said coach Ian Calvert, 35, who is in his ninth season with the program. “This year, there was huge growth in their leadership and in their relationship. They show a maturity they didn’t show in years past.”
As sophomores, their first year together after Coleman transferred from Gateway High School, the two rarely interacted outside of practice. They now consider themselves brothers.
“We talk to each other at any time in the game and pull each other to the side at halftime,” Coleman said. “We’ve probably grown more off the court than on.”
They visited Black Hills State together, an NCAA Division II school in Spearfish, S.D., and a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Coleman signed a letter of intent in November to play for the Yellow Jackets.
While the 6-foot-2 Coleman and the 6-1 Thomas may be the headliners of the Aurora Central cast, they are getting ample help in preparing for the state tournament starting next month.
“We have potential,” Coleman said. “This is probably the first year we’ve had guys come off the bench that can contribute to the team with rebounding skills, energy and effort. Our bond is strong.”
Nine of Aurora Central’s 10 players are seniors. The lone junior is Larry Thomas, the younger brother of Ladarius. He is the Trojans’ floor general.
“He’s stepped up this year,” Ladarius said of his brother. “He’s another guy who stretches the floor, who Elijah and I need. When we drive and kick, we can rely on him to hit the shot.”
While Ladarius Thomas is still weighing his collegiate options — he also visited Wyoming — he has perspective on playing alongside his younger brother.
“To wear the same uniform and pass him the ball and tell him ‘Good shot,’ it’s a dream,” Thomas said.
In addition to being a team leader, Ladarius is also a role model for Larry. He handles the two responsibilities through his actions.
“It’s much easier to have people look up to you if you lead by example,” Ladarius said. “That’s one thing I try to do is lead by example. Once you lead, they follow.”
The game still puts a smile on Thomas’ face, which is what he most enjoys.
“Once you get older, you can tell that smiles go away and basketball feels like a job or a business,” Thomas said. “To me, it’s always been fun and that’s the best thing, being able to smile and play with good people.”