ACC schools high on Holseys list
The Sparta, Ga., Fire Marshall will very likely be standing outside the Hancock Central gym on Saturday night, trying to control the amount of people that will certainly be trying to make their way into the gym.
There really isn't much to do on a Friday night in Sparta, population 2,000, but watch high school hoops. And support the local high school hero Kammeon Holsey.
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The 6-foot-7 forward and his Hancock Central teammates are playing host to area rival Wilkinson County on Saturday and the four-star junior is ready for the rematch. Hancock Central, the number one team in Class A in Georgia, dropped its first game of the year to the team last week.
"Usually they blow us out," Holsey said. "One game last year, they beat us by 40."
Those days are over. Especially with Holsey coming into his own as a post player. The four-star junior did what he could do, posting 29 points (8-17 FG, 13-19 FT) and 18 rebounds in the defeat.
"I've been working hard in the weight room," Holsey said. "It helps me a lot. You don't get pushed around too much. When you get stronger you play more physical and more aggressive. My coach told me that would help me out. I've been jumping with power and working hard for rebounds.
"I think I've improved. I've been better every game out and I've matured into a leader on the court. AAU had helped me a lot. Getting that kind of exposure and playing against that kind of competition has really helped me."
That exposure also helped in his recruitment. Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Nebraska and Xavier have all made the trek to Sparta for some face time this year for either a game or practice, he said. South Carolina and South Florida are also interested, he said.
Holsey was recently at Clemson for the North Carolina game. He has also unofficially visited Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina.
"Georgia Tech and Clemson have stood out," Holsey said. "I like (Georgia Tech) because they put the academics first. I like coach (Paul) Hewitt, he's a good coach. Coach Oliver (Purnell) is a good guy and a good coach. He treats me really well."
Holsey said he has tried to keep a level head of late as the schools up their interest and involvement this season.
"It's a good thing but I try to keep my academics the priority and my grades at the level they need to be," Holsey said. "I'll focus on recruiting later…I'll probably make my decision probably around AAU time."