Men’s Basketball signs Ron Holland to National Letter of Intent

AUSTIN, Texas — Ron Holland has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball subsequent season at The University of Texas, head coach Chris Beard introduced Friday. Holland will be a part of the Longhorns for the 2023-24 season.

Holland (6-8, 200), a ahead from Duncanville, Texas, who has performed at Duncanville High School underneath coach David Peavy for the earlier three seasons, is ranked as the highest prospect within the state of Texas and a top-10 nationwide recruit. Holland is ranked because the No. 10 prospect nationally by ESPN and 247 Sports Composite.

“Ron Holland is one of the most intense prospects in the country with his business-like approach,” mentioned Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s nationwide recruiting director for boys highschool basketball. “A developing skill set allows him to make jumpers, be a straight-line driver and post up. He will manufacture points by filling the lane, cutting and hitting the offensive glass. Ron’s greatest strength is his defense. He is serious about guarding both his man and helping his teammates. Ron is the best switch-defender in this class. He reminds me of NBA star Jimmy Butler with his defensive approach, offensive production and winning mindset.”

During his junior season in 2021-22, Holland averaged 15.9 factors, 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and two steals in 23.9 minutes per sport whereas main Duncanville to a 35-1 general file and the Class 6A state championship. Duncanville completed the season at No. 1 in MaxPreps and No. 2 in ESPN’s nationwide rankings. Holland was chosen as MaxPreps National Junior of the Year final season.

“Ron Holland is a winner,” mentioned Kellen Buffington, scout and evaluator for TheTB5Reports. “He is a versatile player who has really improved his skill set over the last few years. Ron is consistently productive due to his motor, toughness and will to win. He excels at what Coach Beard demands: toughness and competitiveness.”

In his sophomore season in 2020-21, Holland averaged 13.8 factors and 10.1 rebounds per contest whereas serving to Duncanville register a 29-1 mark and seize the 6A state title. He led the Texas 6A Region II district in rebounds per sport (10.1 rpg), double-doubles (16) and whole blocks (27) and was third in whole steals (35). Holland was tabbed a Sophomore All-America second-team choice by MaxPreps in 2020-21.

Over his sophomore and junior seasons, Holland helped Duncanville put up an general file of 64-2 with a pair of Class 6A state championships. Duncanville additionally was a heavy favourite to win the 6A state title in his freshman season earlier than the state tourney as canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to his success at the highschool stage, Holland has additionally claimed a pair of gold medals with Team USA in summer time competitions. This previous July, he averaged 11.1 factors and 6.6 rebounds per contest whereas main Team USA to a gold medal on the FIBA U-17 World Cup in Spain. The earlier summer time (August 2021), Holland averaged a team-best 19.0 factors and team-high 10.2 rebounds per sport whereas pacing Team USA to a 6-0 mark and the gold medal on the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Xalpaia, Mexico. He recorded a double-double in every of his final three video games on the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, together with a 21-point, 12-rebound effort within the 90-75 victory over Argentina within the gold medal sport.

“Ron Holland in one word is a winner,” mentioned Blue Zertuche of Great American Shoot-Out “GASO.” “He is unique in that he has won from the moment he stepped on to the court at Duncanville High School, and that is a quality that will translate to the Big 12. He also has won at the international level with Team USA. Ron’s strength is to lead and to work hard through any situation. He shares Coach Beard’s qualities in that he competes and does whatever it takes to win each play. Ron seeks out the ball on either end to make a play by using instincts and athleticism. With the development he will receive from the Texas staff, Ron’s winning mentality will bleed over into the locker room and of course, on to the court.”

2023-24 Texas Basketball Recruiting Class (as of November 11, 2022)