Recently, former Millennium High School's gifted 6-foot-9, 200-pound rising senior forward DaRon Holmes, our 2020 Arizona Preps Player of the Year, gave an announcement that would take the state's basketball community by complete surprise, as he announced that he would be leaving the state of Arizona for his senior season, and playing for national power Montverde Academy (FL).
The national exposure gained from playing a superb national schedule with Montverde Academy will add immensely to his ability to become a strong candidate for the 2021 McDonald's All-American Game. Holmes' emergence on an ultra-loaded Montverde roster next season, will almost guarantee his pursuit to become McDonald's and will also increase his overall player ranking in the 2021 Class almost immediately.
Holmes led his Millennium High School team to a second-consecutive 5A State Championship runner-up performance last season as a junior, and a strong 24-6 overall record on the season. (5) of the (6) total losses by Millennium on the season came at the hands of strong out-of-state competition. Millennium's only loss on the season came in the final game of the year against a well-focused Ironwood High School team in the 5A State Final.
Holmes averaged impressive numbers on the season, posting 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per/game - numbers that could have been much higher, but Holmes is an excellent teammate and looked to get his teammate involved on every opportunity, rather than look to post larger numbers for himself. Holmes did all he could personally to help lead his teammates to a state title last season.
Holmes is a tremendous talent on the court, and has a very bright future ahead of him - in college and even after that. This young man is a future pro for sure. While he is a serious talent he is an even better person - a young man with an amazing smile, a great personality and very approachable to others.
Here is a recent interview by Arizona Preps with DaRon Holmes, a future pro, on why he chose to transfer, his thoughts on his future and what he is looking for in a college program . . .
