Holts Detour to JUCO Lands Him at Iowa State

Justin Holt wanted to attend Oregon State, but something changed when Ritchie McKay left Corvallis, Ore., last spring to take the reins of the New Mexico basketball program.

Half of Holt wanted to remain a Beaver, but the other half wanted to explore other options.

The latter side won out, and Holt, a 6-7, 209 pound small forward, enrolled this fall at Tacoma C.C. in Washington after spending the summer taking classes at Oregon State.

"The coaching staff was the real reason that I wanted to go to Oregon State," Holt explained. "If Coach McKay were anywhere, that's where I'd want to be, because there has to be a fit between a coach and a player."

"Instead of going to Oregon State my freshman year and not liking it, I decided to leave now, and then have three years left," Holt said. "It was the best decision for me."

So five days before the start of fall classes, Holt raised some eyebrows when he opted to attend nearby Tacoma C.C. this fall.

"It was one of the toughest decisions I ever had to make, because everyone here in the state of Washington was surprised that the state player of the year would turn down a PAC 10 school to go to some community college, but they just don't see what I am doing," Holt said. "And they probably won't see it for the next couple of years until I am a sophomore or junior."

"My decision had nothing to do with the Oregon State players," he continued. "I am not the type of person or player to go in to a situation with one foot in and one foot out, and I don't think they wanted that either."

Little did Holt realize that his decision would set off an intense recruiting battle this fall, which was won on Thursday by Iowa State.

Holt committed to the Cyclones after taking his official visit to Ames this past weekend for the ISU/Nebraska football game.

In doing so, he nixed fall trips to both Oklahoma and New Mexico, not to mention spurning the advances of schools such as Penn State, California, Oregon, Marquette, Wyoming and Washington State

Holt only played two years of high school ball and one year of summer ball. He wears a size 17 shoe.

"I am still pretty new to the game, in fact, I am only 17 right now," Holt said. "People heard of me because of the senior year that I had, and once it was announced that I had left Oregon State, I started getting recruited the next day."

As a full qualifier out of high school, Holt had the luxury of attending junior college for just a year. If he earns 24 credit hours and maintains a 2.0 GPA at Tacoma this year, he will be able to enroll at Iowa State next fall with three years of eligibility.

ISU Head Coach Larry Eustachy, who has a fear of flying, hopped in his auto and drove to Tacoma to take a look at Holt earlier this fall, and he liked what he saw. An offer soon followed and a mutual respect grew out of their initial meeting.

"Coach Eustachy is a tough coach, and I am a tough guy, and the players there are also tough and have character and want to win," Holt said. "I see that, and I believe in that, and I believe in Coach Eustachy and his staff, and they believe in me the same."

Holt was impressive last summer playing for the Seattle Rotary program at both the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, as well as the Best of the Summer Tournament in Los Angeles.

A physical and athletic forward who can do damage both inside and out, Holt promises to bring a versatile game to the Cyclone program next fall.

"I can fulfill what they need as a a three," he said. "I can do it all -- I can hit the three, slash, play d, and hopefully I can come in and play right away and we can win."

And Holt, who has overcome a difficult adolescence and many obstacles to become a high major Division I basketball player, is looking at Iowa State as more than just an outlet for his athletic gifts.

"Coach Eustachy doesn't only want me as a basketball player, it's like a family over there," Holt said. "He's more of a people person, and he's my type of coach."

"One of the players told me that he's hard on you, but that he is going to be there for you too," he continued. "That's what type of coach I need, and my high school and JUCO coaches are similar to that."

Holt plans on signing a national letter of intent with Iowa State during the early signing period in November.

Rivalshoops.com will keep you abreast on his play this year at Tacoma C.C., so stay tuned.