With the conclusion to the 2019-2020 high school basketball season, and while the state of Arizona is currently trying to navigate the COVID-19 virus, as many other states around the country also look to make adjustments and remain healthy, it is time for our Arizona Preps staff to return to the amazing high school basketball season that recently ended and make our selections for Arizona Coach and Player of the Year.
The 2019-2020 high school basketball season was one to remember for many reasons - filled with intrigue and loads of exciting basketball games and top perormances from players. While there were many top performers throughout the season, there was no individual student-athlete in the state that was more dominant or impressive than Millennium High School's gifted 6-foot-9, 200-pound junior post DaRon Holmes.
Holmes dominated the state all spring and summer (2019), and then followed it up with superb performances all season long - leading his Millennium High School team to a second-consecutive 5A State Championship runner-up performance, 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 our top overall prospect in the state's AIA, and he is currently rated among the nation's elite overall prospects in America's 2021 Class. Holmes is being recruited nationally by just about every college program in America, and currently has offers from Kansas, Arizona, Virginia, UCLA, Texas Tech, Wake Forest, USC, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, Marquette, Pepperdine, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Cal, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Loyola Marymount, New Mexico, GCU and UTEP.
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.
For all of his efforts on and off the floor this past season, and for his overall performance throughout the season, DaRon Holmes is our 2020 Arizona Preps Player of the Year.
