BY ZACH SMART
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.–Class of 2026 Arizona bound four star Cameron Holmes has rarely seen snow over the years.
Headed into the Panini Hopphall Classic, Holmes suddenly finds himself sporting an XL sized jacket as he arrives in what may as well be arctic Massachusetts.
In sun soaked Arizona, the temperature rarely dips below 50 degrees in the Phoenix area, even smack in the middle of winter.
Holmes, the 6-foot-6, 190-pound Milennium (AZ) HS three-and-D style wing is headed to No.1 University of Arizona, surely is not concerned about the weather right now.
Holmes came to the birthplace of basketball on business.
He emphasized amd reiterated the importance of enforcing both his and his lone senior teammate’s veteran, seasoned leadership to propel this Millennium team to a convincing win across the country.
Holmes’ future hardwood home features another Arizona-based talent in NBA Draft prospect/Arizona freshman Koa Peat, who thrived at Perry HS in Gilbert, AZ.
Peat is averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and shooting it at a scintillating 56.8 percent from the floor.
The 6-foot-8, 235-pound Peat is coming off a performance of 24 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists during an 89-82 victory over Arizona State.
Of course, conventional wisdom indicates Peat will be at U of A for this season and this season only.
Having grown up watching Chris Webber, Tracy McGrady and Jalen Rose and patterning his game around their elite scoring and dishing apttitude, Holmes took an immense leap from his sophomore year to his junior year.
He has became more explosive. The senior has emerged into a more reliable shot maker, and has guarded up with a ferocity while using his physical frame.
Holmes has inherited some ownership of this Milennium team in the process.
Holmes ultimately chose Arizona over the likes of Illinois, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and several others.
What sold Holmes on head coach Tommy Lloyd and Arizona?
“I felt at first I wanted to go to a college where I could be the main scorer. I had to come to the realization that’s not what college is about,” Holmes told ZAGSBLOG.
“It is about finding your purpose, finding your role. Coach Lloyd, the way he coaches, you know, he is never going to BS you. He is going to put you in the right spots to succeed. Just the way that he coaches… Everything is about winning. Everything is about positioning his players for the most success. I just know (Lloyd) is going to put me in the right spots so I can excel.”
Holmes’ Millennium squad will play traditionally powerful NY CHSAA “AA” Christ The King HS out of New York City.
Longtime CTK head coach Joe Arbitiello’s team is led by LaSalle commit Johnny Magna, a 6-foot-4 Clasd of 2027 bolt quick guard.
Magna has been a certifiable stat sheet stuffer this season.
While he has turned in multiple games of 25+ points, the long and high IQ guard is a table setter who generates possessions off of defensive boards and makes it all work for the Royals.
CTK has guard depth with sharpshooting sophomore Aaron Ellis and a jumbo sized 6-foot-11, 245-pound big in Filip Runjo, a space eater who can score it at point blank and is still learning the intricacies of the back to the rim game.
“Oh, they’re no joke, Christ The King is going to come with it,” Holmes said.
“This is really our first big matchup out on the East Coast. So why not give it our all and go 100 percent on everything? Christ The King is going to do the exact same thing with us.”
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