Duncanville Excessive Faculty head coach David Peavy stood outdoors the locker room after the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Sport able to congratulate his star participant on the symbolic near an unbelievable highschool profession. When Ron Holland lastly exited, Peavy noticed one thing he didn’t count on. Holland was devastated to the purpose of almost being in tears.
Holland was upset as a result of his West staff had misplaced the sport on the ultimate possession after lacking a shot on the buzzer.
“I’m like, ‘that is an All-Star Sport, bro,’” Peavy recalled throughout an interview with SB Nation. “And he was like, ‘coach, I don’t lose.’”
All Holland ever did was win at the highschool stage popping out of Dallas. Duncanville was the most effective staff in Texas throughout Holland’s freshman 12 months earlier than the pandemic canceled the state match because the staff was driving the bus to a playoff sport. In his sophomore season, Duncanville went 28-1 and received a 6A Texas state championship. The subsequent 12 months, Anthony Black (now a guard for the Orlando Magic) transferred in, and Duncanville went 33-1, once more successful the title. Shortly after, the state’s athletic governing physique stripped the championship as a result of it deemed Black was ineligible.
Duncanville’s vacated title and playoff ban the following 12 months turned headline information. This system responded by taking part in a nationwide schedule, ending 29-1, and claiming a legendary nationwide championship with Holland as their senior chief.
Alongside the best way, Holland additionally received two gold medals with USA Basketball. He was the main scorer for Crew USA on the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, after which performed a starring position on the 2022 FIBA U17 Males’s World Cup staff.
Holland was pegged as the highest recruit in his class by some shops, and projected as an early candidate to go No. 1 total within the 2024 NBA Draft. There was loads to love about his sport: professional dimension, athletic slashing, defensive playmaking, and particularly a continuous motor. However greater than something, Holland was a extremely touted prospect as a result of he was labeled as a winner.
A 12 months later, the narrative has fully flipped. After one season with the G League Ignite, Holland is all of the sudden a prospect outlined by dropping.
The Ignite completed 6-44 on the 12 months. They have been a dreadful watch, putting dead-last in each offensive and defensive effectivity in a efficiency so embarrassing the NBA determined to close down this system completely on the finish of the season. Because the losses piled up, Holland’s professional inventory has apparently plummeted, with the newest rumors stating he might probably slip out of the lottery.
“In highschool I really feel like I used to be simply taking part in at one hundred pc and operating over guys,” Holland informed SB Nation on the NBA Draft Mix in Might. “I positively realized find out how to cope with it with the Ignite taking part in in opposition to larger and smarter defenders.”
Holland has roughly been the identical participant this complete time. The strengths of his sport that have been as soon as mentioned to instantly correlate with successful at the moment are being discounted because of the weaknesses that have been extra uncovered in opposition to grown males for the primary time throughout the Ignite’s season. Going in opposition to execs as an 18-year-old isn’t straightforward, and the bounce to the NBA can be much more daunting for one of many youngest gamers on this draft class.
Who’s the actual Ron Holland? To search out the reply, you want to dig deeper than his six months within the G League.
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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
Peavy knew Holland was gifted sufficient to play on a loaded Duncanville staff from the minute he enrolled in class. What he realized rapidly is that he wasn’t mature sufficient to deal with actual minutes.
“Ron most likely acquired kicked off form greater than anyone I’ve ever coached,” Peavy informed SB Nation. “He liked understanding, however he didn’t love follow.”
“The monotony of doing shell drills, getting on the road operating, you realize, stuff that no person likes,” Peavy mentioned. “Ron wasn’t mature sufficient to grasp, hey man, that is going to get you higher. You simply should do it.”
Duncanville all the time had a lot expertise on the roster that Peavy mentioned he might train Holland a lesson with taking part in time early in his profession for his poor follow habits. The 2020 staff in Holland’s freshman 12 months was led by Micah Peavy, David’s son, who has loved a productive four-year profession for TCU. Zhuric Phelps was the staff chief throughout his sophomore 12 months earlier than happening to a standout school profession at SMU. Black transferred in as a junior, and Arizona ahead Okay.J. Lewis joined as a senior.
Throughout Holland’s 4 years in highschool, Duncanville went 119-8, with tons of banners to indicate for it. That doesn’t imply teaching Holland was all the time straightforward.
“He would have one good day, then he would have two unhealthy days at follow,” Peavy mentioned. “By his sophomore 12 months, he was having one good day, one unhealthy day. Finally I spotted he might play by his errors, as a result of talent-wise, we wanted him.”
Holland’s nationwide ascent really began throughout his sophomore 12 months. After being a starter on Duncanville’s state title staff, he performed a starring position in serving to take Drive Nation to the U16 championship sport on Nike’s EYBL circuit. That’s when USA Basketball got here calling. Holland traveled to Mexico for the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, and instantly emerged as the most effective participant on the staff. He led the match in scoring by averaging 19 factors throughout six video games, and completed third amongst all gamers in rebounding, fourth in steals, and sixth in blocks.
When Holland returned to Duncanville, Peavy noticed newfound management potential and extra “alpha” in his star wing. He would nonetheless frustrate his head coach, however it was unattainable to argue with the outcomes. Duncanville might have been the most effective highschool staff within the nation, and Holland was making successful performs everywhere in the flooring.
“He simply doesn’t lose,” Peavy mentioned. “I don’t understand how else to say it. It might drive me loopy typically, however he all the time discovered a solution to determine it out.”
Duncanville was successful large at each alternative, going 62-2 throughout Holland’s junior and senior years. Even in opposition to nationwide competitors, Holland was just too bodily and too tenacious for different groups to comprise. USA Basketball prolonged one other invitation to play within the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in Spain, the place it might declare one other gold medal. Cooper Flagg, the possible first choose within the 2025 NBA Draft, led the staff within the match’s effectivity metric. Holland was second.
Sharman White, who coached Holland to each gold medals with USA Basketball, by no means had any points with Holland at follow or in any other case. He seen him as an final staff participant.
“He was a frontrunner in each years,” White informed SB Nation. “He did every little thing we requested him to do. He’s a competitor so, you realize, you may see him fired up somewhat bit, however it wasn’t nothing out of line out. He’s all the time selecting up his teammates.”
As a highschool participant, Holland was seen as a Swiss military knife. He was not often probably the most expert offensive participant on the ground, however his mixture of athleticism, hustle, and intangibles constantly discovered a solution to make a successful influence. White and Peavy each recalled sequences the place Holland would get a block on one finish, run the ground for a dunk, after which bust his ass down the court docket for an additional block. Better of all, Holland was all the time on the prime of his sport within the greatest moments.
“There have been a number of instances the place I used to be like, there’s no method we’re going to win this sport,” Peavy mentioned. “Like we’re down 10 with two minutes to go after which he hits a pair of threes when he hadn’t hit a 3 in two video games. I’m screaming ‘no, no, no.’ And when the shot goes in, he blows me a kiss on the best way down. Then he will get a rebound, places in it, and will get a cease on the opposite finish. The buzzer goes off and he smacks me on the ass and like, ‘hey coach, I acquired you.’”
“I’m like God dang, the child simply doesn’t lose. He simply don’t lose.”
“He didn’t all the time follow onerous,” Peavy mentioned. “However when the lights have been on, when the second got here and it was time to go get it, neglect it. You’re not gonna beat him for a unfastened ball.”
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Photograph by David Becker/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Holland’s authentic plan was to remain house for faculty. At the beginning of his senior 12 months, he dedicated to the Texas Longhorns.
”I’ve completed lots of successful within the state of Texas,” Holland informed ESPN. “And plan to proceed these successful methods at The College of Texas with coach Beard and his workers.”
Two months later, Texas fired head coach Chris Beard after home abuse allegations. Texas went to the Elite Eight below interim coach Rodney Terry, however Holland nonetheless ultimately determined to reopen his recruitment. When he opted to go the G League Ignite route, Peavy informed him he most likely wasn’t going to win many video games.
“I mentioned, ‘Ron, how are you gonna deal with dropping?’ After which I additionally thought, you realize what, this is perhaps good for him. It’s one thing else he’s gonna have to determine.”
When Holland arrived in Las Vegas to play for his new G League staff, ESPN wrote that this was probably the most expertise the Ignite had ever had of their four-year existence. You might see the imaginative and prescient: Holland and Matas Buzelis have been projected 1-2 in our early 2024 NBA mock draft as a pair of tall wings whose video games seemingly complemented one another properly. There was additionally a basic stretch 4 in Tyler Smith, a adorned playmaking large man in Izan Almansa, and a few intriguing long-term skills in Babacar Sane, Dink Pate, and Thierry Darlan.
As an alternative, the Ignite have been a catastrophe from the bounce. The staff had poor level guard play, terrible spacing, and appeared completely unconnected on each ends of the ground. As an alternative of taking part in a task off older and wiser teammates like he did for almost all of his prep profession, Holland was all of the sudden requested to create nearly every little thing himself. His 27.6 utilization fee led the Ignite and is likely one of the highest figures on this whole draft class. Tasked with a heavy creation burden for the primary time in his life, Holland put up spectacular numbers however struggled to take action effectively.
In 29 video games, Holland averaged 19.5 factors, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks per sport. That appears nice till you dive beneath the floor.
Holland shot the ball horribly from the skin, going 23-of-97 (23.7 %) from three-point vary on the season. He had a detrimental assist-to-turnover ratio, ending with 93 turnovers to 90 assists. His deal with appeared weak in tight areas, he usually acquired tunnel imaginative and prescient as a scorer on drives to the rim, and his protection suffered from a scarcity of attentiveness at instances even when he was all the time taking part in onerous.
The Ignite additionally simply acquired smoked when Holland was on the court docket. He posted a -14.4 net-rating. His tape is stuffed with air balls, predetermined decision-making, and impressive gambles gone awry.
After all, the Ignite have been by no means constructed to win with 18-year-olds going in opposition to grown males. Holland and his teammates have been there to develop for the NBA. Whereas the numbers may appear disappointing, there have been additionally loads of flashes to get enthusiastic about.
“If anybody hears the identify Ron Holland, the phrase vitality has all the time been round me since I used to be born,” Holland informed reporters on the NBA Draft mix. “I really feel like vitality will get individuals going. When you’re capable of get your teammates going, and you’ve got a extremely good staff round you, it’s onerous to be beat.”
Enjoying with a excessive motor is a ability, and Holland has it in spades. Whilst one of many youngest gamers within the G League, Holland’s motor pops everywhere in the tape.
Holland was a monster at producing steals all season lengthy. He had 69 steals in 29 video games, good for two.4 per sport, which ranked third within the G League amongst anybody who performed not less than 15 video games. The 2 gamers forward of him, Shaq Harrison and Tre Mann, are each veterans with lots of of NBA video games below their belt. For Holland to be that good at producing takeaways at such a younger age is exceptional.
Holland is never completely out of a play as a result of he constantly makes a number of efforts. His burst to the ball, sharp arms, and fast leaping give him super restoration potential.
If the ball is unfastened, Holland goes to get it. When he hits the open flooring, good luck stopping him.
Holland acquired almost 26 % of his offense in transition this 12 months, and scored properly in these alternatives with 1.064 factors per possession and 66.4 % true capturing, in response to Synergy Sports activities. He has breakaway pace to create separation from his opponents on the break with the physique management, contact, and grasp time to complete in shut.
Sure, that’s eight-year NBA veteran Kenneth Faried who Holland is Euro-stepping round within the first clip. He wouldn’t have seen that by taking part in at Texas.
It’s a lot simpler to attain in transition than in opposition to a set protection within the NBA. Holland’s potential to power transition alternatives together with his protection and rebounding, and end them together with his pace and contact, is a big a part of what makes him a tantalizing prospect. His sport isn’t solely reliant on getting up-and-down, although.
Holland has a pure potential to generate paint touches with the ball in his arms in opposition to a set protection. He has a depraved first step, the suddenness to alter path mid-drive, and luxury ending together with his off (left) hand. Whereas he nonetheless wants so as to add important power to his body, he’s already good at taking part in by contact by delivering the primary blow to the defender. Right here’s a compilation of Holland driving downhill:
Holland’s rim stress can be a signature a part of his sport if he reaches his ceiling. After all, that’s going to take time for a participant who will nonetheless be 18 years outdated on draft day. Within the meantime, Holland’s finest hope for incomes minutes comes again to his motor and his potential to seek out opportunistic scoring probabilities when a play isn’t run for him.
Holland has a present for high-pointing the ball within the air. He doesn’t look forward to a unfastened ball or rebound to come back to him, he sucks it up like Pac-Man devouring a yellow dot. He’s capable of flip these recoveries into grab-and-go alternatives earlier than the protection will get set. He’s going to be a lob risk if he performs with a high-level passer, and he has the prospect to develop right into a mismatch scorer after scramble performs and on switches.
For all of his expertise, Holland’s lack of a bounce shot is bordering on a deadly flaw for his professional inventory. He shot solely 27 % on “open” three-pointers, and had “unhealthy misses” on almost 20 % of his makes an attempt. In a league that simply noticed its first true five-out champion, drafting such a foul shooter can be a non-starter for some groups. After all, you don’t should dig that far to seek out examples of different younger guards and wings who shot the ball poorly as an 18-year-old earlier than ultimately turning into actual three-point threats.
If a staff believes it could actually repair Holland’s shot, it’s straightforward to see a world the place he has as a lot upside as any participant on this class.
As Holland will get prepared to leap to the very best stage on the earth, groups have to make their very own assessments on if he’s the do-everything, final winner he confirmed on the prep stage, or the overmatched teen with a damaged jumper he appeared like for the Ignite. Right here’s how Holland characterizes his personal worth to NBA groups.
“I describe my sport as a high-level vitality man that could be very versatile,” Holland mentioned on the draft mix. “I can guard 1-5 and play 1-4. I can do something my coach wants me to do. I really feel like that’s probably the greatest components about my sport.”
Peavy added somewhat extra shade.
“Ron’s acquired somewhat loopy in him to the purpose the place he simply, he has no take care of his properly being,” Peavy mentioned. “If he has to leap and get a rebound, however it means he’s going to smack his head in opposition to the backboard and have a concussion, he’ll do it.”
There are a couple of realities that Holland should deal with within the NBA. He’ll be one of many 5 youngest gamers within the NBA subsequent season. He received’t be guarded as a flooring spacer by opposing defenses. Whereas he measured properly on the mix — 6’6.5 barefoot (name it 6’8 in footwear) with a 6’10.75 wingspan at 196.8 kilos — his model of play is nearer to a 4 man and his dimension is nearer to a perfect three. He’ll possible want not less than a few years within the weight room earlier than he’ll be capable of leverage his power in opposition to execs.
Holland’s position early in his NBA profession will possible look loads nearer to his Duncanville days than his 12 months with the Ignite. No staff can be tasking him with shot creation as a rookie. As an alternative, he’ll be capable of go all-out on protection, crash the glass, get out in transition, and attempt to get to the rim on offense when another person creates a bonus for him. Slipping within the draft in the end won’t be the worst factor for Holland. As a excessive choose, he’d go to a foul staff anticipating to be some form of savior. If he falls, he’ll go to a greater staff with much less stress to contribute straight away.
Holland might need an uphill climb to be an NBA contributor with a foul bounce shot, however Peavy’s phrases about his former participant nonetheless ring true. Even in seemingly unwinnable conditions, Holland tends to discover a solution to pull by. That’s a ability groups shouldn’t guess in opposition to.
