‘The Bachelorette’: Joe Coleman Was ‘Minnesota Mr. Basketball’ – What Exactly Does That Mean?
The Bachelorette contestant Joe Coleman quickly caught viewers’ eye as a possible frontrunner in Michelle Young’s season. The 28-year-old is a former basketball player from Minnesota, just like Michelle. When Joe stepped out of the limo, Michelle recognized him as someone she had met before. On the most recent episode of The Bachelorette, Joe and the rest of the men went on a basketball-themed date. Michelle mentioned that Joe was “Minnesota Mr. Basketball,” but what exactly does that mean?
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers about Michelle Young and Joe Coleman in The Bachelorette Season 18 Week 2.]
Who is ‘The Bachelorette’ contestant Joe Coleman?
Joe is a real estate developer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like Michelle, Joe played high school and college basketball and shares a love for the sport. According to his ABC bio, Joe is “looking for a woman who is smart, caring, articulate and able to make him laugh.”
During week 1, Michelle realized she knew Joe. The two had briefly exchanged messages on Instagram before he ghosted her. This came back to cause drama in week 2. Rumors circulated among the men that Michelle and Joe had known each other before coming on the show. Michelle addressed her contestants and set the record straight.
Joe was ‘Minnesota Mr. Basketball’ in high school
During week 2, Michelle and her contestants go on a basketball-themed group date. They are joined by WNBA players Dearica Hamby and Diamond DeShields, who put the men through a host of drills. Joe shined on this date and Michelle mentioned that he was Minnesota Mr. Basketball.
Minnesota Mr. Basketball is an award that recognizes excellence in Minnesota boys’ high school basketball. The award dates back all the way to 1975 and Joe was the recipient in 2011. Michelle describes the award as “basically saying that you are the number one player in the state.” Joe went to Hopkins High School and went on to play college basketball at the University of Minnesota.
Interestingly, Michelle mentions on the group date that she was the runner-up for Minnesota Miss Basketball in the same year. She and Joe have certainly bonded over their love of the sport so far this season. During the group date, Joe’s team lost in a game of scrimmage, but Joe was named MVP of the day and received an invite to the after-party with the winning team.
Is Joe Coleman still on ‘The Bachelorette?’
During the week 2 cocktail party on The Bachelorette Joe and Michelle bonded further. Joe shared that one of his former basketball coaches had died. Michelle sympathized and comforted Joe. She awarded him the group date rose at the end of the evening
Despite the drama that happened later in the episode, Joe is safe and will continue on to week 3. Fans will have to stay tuned to see if Joe and Michelle find love later in the season.
