As you guy's may know I follow basketball a bit and I do keep track of former Bobcats from time to time. This really surprised, how well Ryan Holmes is doing at Phoenix Junior College in Arizona. Phoenix is one of the top teams in this region it features a handful of future D-1 player, including a guy who has signed with Gonzaga. Averaging 20 points and 7 assists is pretty damn impressive. Truth be told I do not know the full story as to why Ryan transferred, but as a former Bobcat I wish him all the best of luck, it sure sounds like he will be playing d-1 ball next year somewhere. Hell we could use him this year!
Former all-state high school guard Ryan Holmes has a new lease on life. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound sophomore guard now plays for Phoenix College, after recently transferring from Montana State. Currently ranking among the top scorers and assist men in the ACCAC, Holmes has helped lead his Bears to a second-place ranking in the conference. . .
As a high school senior, Holmes ranked among the top overall performers in the state. Holmes lead the state in scoring during the 2003-2004 high school basketball season with a scoring average of 29.8 points per/game. In the same season, Holmes also led Millennium HS to their first Final Four appearance in the school's history.
In the spring of 2004, Holmes signed a scholarship with Montana State. After a freshman season for the ball club where he started numerous games, Holmes' future looked very bright at the school. After the beginning of his sophomore season at the school, Holmes decided to leave after a tragic death in his family.
After returning home to Arizona in the fall of 2005, in what would have been his sophomore year of school, Holmes attended classes at Phoenix College while dealing with his loss. After regaining his sophomore year of eligibility after petitioning to the NCAA, Holmes knew he would have his work cut out to put himself back on the recruiting map and land another division-I scholarship. While sitting out the year of college basketball, Holmes worked hard individually to increase his court speed, increase his vertical leap, and pack on extra pounds of muscle.
This season as a sophomore starter for Phoenix College, Holmes has returned to form better than ever. The sophomore combo guard ranks tied for seventh in the Arizona Community College Athletic Association (ACCAC) for scoring, with a 20.1 scoring average. He also ranks among conference assists leaders with an average of 7 assists per/game, all while shooting 56% from the field and 84% from the free-throw line (ranks 5th in the conference). As a result, the Bears are tied for second-place in the conference standings (6-1, 3-1).
While team defenses have keyed on Gonzaga signee Ira Brown, Holmes has been very consistent this season in his ability to make defenses pay. While playing the point position for Head Coach Matt Gordon, Holmes has also seen major minutes at the off-guard position as well. Possessing a strong physical frame, Holmes is able to get anywhere he wants on the floor with the dribble, while also being able to score from the perimeter as well. His passing ability speaks for itself, and he also finishes in the painted area as well as any guard in the conference.
As a result of his stellar play this season, Holmes is now gaining major interest from division-I schools. Numerous mid-major programs have poured into the Phoenix area as of late to take a look at the sophomore guard. According to Holmes, he advised Arizona Preps that he does not currently have a leader for his services, and that he would like to play at the highest level.
"I feel I can contribute to any program," Holmes told us.
Holmes currently continues to work harder than ever before, still working out before and after practice. Even though the season has already started he knows the more effort he puts in, the more he will achieve.
