The University of Hawaiʻi men's basketball team got some good news after losing four players to the transfer portal: Noel Coleman announced on Friday, May 5, that he will return for his last season at Hawaiʻi.

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The junior has done extremely well this past season, which included a season-high 25 points against Long Beach State at home on Jan. 14. Coleman has also proven to be a valuable asset from 3-point range, which included not one, but two buzzer-beating triples against Cal State Fullerton to send the 'Bows to overtime, only to eventually fall to CSF both times.

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Coleman also had two 22-point efforts against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 11, 2022, and against Pepperdine on Dec. 22, 2022, in the Diamond Head Classic first round. Coleman also exceeded 20 points in five games this season.

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During the 2022-23 season, Coleman made 57 total 3-pointers, which was good enough for second place overall this season in made 3-pointers, just 10 shy of teammate Kamaka Hepa's 67. However, Coleman led the team in steals overall with 33, and in overall points with 403 in the 33 games played this season. Teammate JoVon McClanahan is next in steals with 31. Coleman also was second on the team in made field goals at under 33% (128-329); his 128 field goals puts him just five shy of Hepa's 133.

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Coleman's energy on the court has proven to be a valuable asset both offensively and defensively. His performances have proven that if he were not out there, Hawaiʻi may very well have let more games slip through their fingers.

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It was once rumored that Hawaiʻi's home finale against UC Irvine was Coleman's final game in the Stan Sheriff Center until he announced on On Point with Artie Wilson that he was returning. When you add in the signings of new players Matthieu Cotton and Justin McKoy, and point guard Juan Munoz petitioning the NCAA for another year, the future for a second Big West Tournament Championship looks bright for Hawaiʻi.

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Hawaiʻi will hope to finish better than fifth place in the 2024 Big West season, and they will hope to successfully defend their 2022 Diamond Head Classic Championship as well.