Coleman was the #11 overall pick of the New York Knicks in the 1960 NBA draft, after averaging 30.3 points per game as a senior at Kentucky Wesleyan.

[3] In 1956, Coleman was considered by many as the best high school basketball player in the nation, ranking with Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.

[4] Rupp said, "the greatest high school player who ever lived...A combination of Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey, and all of the other great stars who have played at Kentucky.

"[5][4][6] Coleman's four-game individual total of 185 points and point-per-game average of 46.25 set Kentucky state tournament records.

However, he was eventually banned from playing for West Virginia after the NCAA determined that Coleman received major gifts, including the use of a car, clothes and money.

Coleman still holds Kentucky Wesleyan records for highest scoring average for a career (27.7 ppg) and most points in a season (848).

[4] As a freshman, in 1956–57, Coleman led Kentucky Wesleyan to a national runner-up in the 1957 NCAA College Division basketball tournament.

He led Kentucky Wesleyan to a third-place finish in the 1960 NCAA College Division basketball tournament.

[13][3] On April 11, 1960, the New York Knicks selected Kelly Coleman in Round 2 with Pick 3 (#11 overall) in the 1960 NBA draft.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Roberston (#1), West (#2) Lenny Wilkens (#7) and Satch Sanders (#9) were taken just ahead of him.

He followed that by playing two seasons (1961–63), for the Chicago Majors of the American Basketball League, averaging 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 1961–62.

"[17] Coleman died on June 16, 2019, at the Noreen and Greg Wells Hospice Care Center in Hazard, Kentucky.