2022 point guard, Tre Holloman, has become a highly coveted hometown basketball prospect, out of the prestigious Cretin-Derham Hall High School (Minnesota). Holloman has shown he is worth the national attention he’s getting.

Holloman has scholarship offers from Power-5 programs all over the country, including Minnesota, Iowa State, Baylor, Wisconsin, Iowa and Texas (just to name a handful). To discuss those offers and more, WCCO’s Henry Lake recently interviewed the top-100 point guard. The interview is below, followed by five things that I took away from it. First though, here’s a quote from the interview, about Richard Pitino.

“The relationship with the coaching staff… and really see if they would let me play. And (see if they’re) laughing and joking and stuff, and just being like a father figure for me.”

Tre Holloman – WCCO Interview

#1: His ideal coach sounds a lot like Richard Pitino

Okay, okay… that quote wasn’t specifically about Minnesota Gophers head basketball coach, Richard Pitino, but it might as well have been. That was Tre’s answer when asked about what factors play most into his college decision.

Think about it: Holloman has a very good relationship with the Gophers. He has appeared at several games throughout the past couple years and continues to have dialogue with the coaching staff. Maybe it’s the Minnesota Sports Fan talking, but he’s describing Pitino in this quote. Richard is the ultimate father-figure and his dad jokes on Twitter prove it.

Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there and thank u to my wonderful wife and kids for the balloons and for not knowing when Father’s Day actually is! #FathersDay pic.twitter.com/jhCC4lAleT

— Richard Pitino (@CoachPitinoMN) June 13, 2020

Whether he is describing Pitino or not (because he could 100% be talking about other coaches — and probably is), I will continue to have hope that Little Ricky is the dream coach Holloman is describing. Here is the entire interview:

In 2019-20, only his sophomore year of high school, Holloman averaged 11 points, 9.2 assists, 2.7 steals and 3.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 44.4% from the field and 37.2% from deep. During the winter, he plays some of the best competition in the state at CDH, and turns it up in the summer too, playing AAU ball with one of the nations best, Howard Pulley.

#2: Emoni Bates decision to commit to Michigan State could hurt the Gophers

“That was big, that was very big. [Bates and I] really talk often, and I would want to play with somebody like him, because he can score and he’s a winner and he’s got that winner mentality.”

Tre Holloman – WCCO Interview

If you haven’t been paying attention to the national recruiting landscape thus far, Emoni Bates is the number one player in the nation, according to many news outlets. He has been labeled as one of the best prospects since Lebron James, by recruiting expert Evan Daniels. This past week, he committed to Michigan State. 

There is a chance he never even steps foot on the East Lansing campus. The NBA is thinking about changing the one-and-done rule, and even if they don’t, there are now other feasible and lucrative options. For now, however, Bates’ decision hurts the Gophers. 

Holloman has been recruited heavily by Michigan State. Tom Izzo even went as far as to call Holloman, just after midnight, on the first day he was allowed to call junior prospects. Additionally, Bates and Holloman talk “often” according to Tre…

#3: Holloman thankful for the attention he’s received from coaches during quarantine

“It’s been a blessing, because knowing that coaches still are looking at me and then I’m not really playing… puts joy to my face.”

“Coaches been calling me, texting me, and just letting me know their play style and stuff and doing zoom calls.”

Tre Holloman – WCCO Interview

During the interview Holloman was asked how national recruiting has been during quarantine. Holloman’s play last year speaks for itself. Known for his passing skills more than his scoring, Tre averaged 11 points and an astounding 9.2 assists per game. You do not see that very often, if at all. Those stats have coaches buzzing his phone a lot, too.

#4: Missed time during quarantine was tough but wasn’t a problem

“It’s been tough because I can’t work out or shoot around and stuff because the virus and it’s been tough. But I’ve been working through it and just being patient in how I get to work out and stuff so it feels good now.”

“Not really [rusty] because [other] people are sitting at home, too. And they gotta wait, too, so nah, I haven’t been feeling rusty.

Tre Holloman – WCCO Interview

With COVID-19 abruptly cutting the CDH Basketball season short, Holloman was unable to finish what he started, nor get in the gym after the season. Was that stressful for him? Was he worried about getting rusty?

Here is the exact type of pass that makes 4⭐️ PG Tre Holloman of CDH so good. Rapid transition, snap delivery reading the floor, basket before a D can get to bodies.

Tre will be with Howard Pulley 16u this summer if games are played. pic.twitter.com/3M7NYTmqu6

— Ryan James (@RyanJamesMN) April 19, 2020

#5: Offseason Plan

Every player has something to improve on during the offseason. For some, it’s getting quicker and stronger. For others, it’s passing. For Holloman, it’s shooting.

Even while shooting a higher field goal percentage than everyone on the Gophers except Daniel Oturu and Jarvis Omersa, he still feels he needs to get better. Plus, that three-point percentage isn’t too bad either, as it’s only behind Isiah Ihnen, when comparing to current Gophers.

When asked about what his strengths are and what he needs to improve on, he was pretty honest and accurate.

“My best things that I have is my basketball IQ, because I can see the floor very well and I make the right plays and stuff. What I need to work on is my shooting, so like catch and shoot and shooting off the dribble… being more consistent with it.” 

Tre Holloman – WCCO Interview

Overall, Tre Holloman is definitely a player that the Gophers need to keep on their radar. He’s a hometown kid, for one. His mom, Crystal Flint, played for Minnesota in the early 90’s. I know It’d make me, and a lot other Gophers fans, very happy to see her son put on the Maroon and Gold too.

Tre Holloman is a complete PG! ? @Tretrehoops pic.twitter.com/SoYJfL7zWP

— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) June 25, 2020

Carson Ruen | Minnesota Sports Fan

Trejuan Holloman @Tretrehoops 2022 PG from Cretin Derham Hall Highlights vs Minnehaha Academy at @BreakdownUSA Event

Holloman is a Top 100 2022 player Nationally@NorthstarHoops @mnbasketballhub @PrepHoops @PulleyHoops AAU#basketball #basketballislife #basketballedits #Nike pic.twitter.com/mYfkR31Qdx

As an 8th grade Trejuan Holloman was already playing Varsity at Minneapolis North High School. View by many as the best player in Minnesota in his class. For his Freshman Year, and now Sophomore, he’s been the starting point guard for Cretin-Derham Hall (His Mom Crystal Flint is the Varsity Girls Head Coach).

Going into his Freshman year, Holloman has a few coming out moments. One, playing Howard Pulley Hoops he had this dunk, at a camp he ran the floor and threw down there, and don’t forget about this one at the CP3 camp.

Suddenly the 2022 point guard was on everyone’s basketball radar. Then, in one of his first Freshman football games, he picked off a pass and went 99 yards for a TD.

All of this brings us to now. Holloman has at least 7 Division 1 offers for basketball including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Marquette, Texas and Baylor; with Michigan State standing by. Since Tre is a 2022 Sophomore, there isn’t much for reliable rankings yet so we’ll have to see where he ends up.

Holloman’s background and tutelage, mixed with his athletic skillset, makes him shine as point guard prospect and he the stats back it up. While playing Howard Pulley 17U he averaged 3.4 assists and a steal per game.

As a Freshman at CDH he posted a 10.5/4/9.5 stat line while also getting 2.6 steals per game. Now 7 games into his Sophomore year he’s posting 12.1/4/9 while stealing 3.7 balls a game. Improving on already gaudy numbers with an offer list like what he has, is what brings in the stars when the rankings roll out.

Q: I know the Gophers have offered you, and a few other Big10 teams, what do you think of the Gophers? 

A: They’re a good team very fun to watch.

Q: Your Mom went to Minnesota, does that have any extra impact on you to follow her and go there?

A: Nah not really.

Q: I remember last year I posted a highlight of one game of yours. Your Mom comment on Twitter about she liked I left in the turnover as a way of you seeing your mistake. You chased down the play for a block BTW, how much of an influence does she have on your game?

A: She has a lot because she taught me the fundamentals of playing basketball like how to pass correctly, how to dribble, how to play defense and just that Kill mentality.

Trejuan Holloman (@Tretrehoops) of @CDHraiders vs Wayzata

Tre is 1 of MNs top recruits for 2022@NorthstarHoops @PrepHoops @mnbasketballhub pic.twitter.com/Q7JorEK66W

— StreetHistory (Ryan S) (@streethistory) December 4, 2018

Q: Having that influence seems like a great advantage, do you use the knowledge she’s passed on to you to help others learn like your teammates?

A: Yes, being a point guard my teammates listen to me and what I have to say all the time and I learn from them too.

Q: You guys got a big win earlier this month on Minnehaha Academy in a good game after a tough opener vs Eden Prairie. And since the offense seems to be clicking, what’s been the keys for you early?

A: For us as a team?

Q: For you and the team.

A: Our defense creates our offense so if we get a stop, we get out in get fast break points. Also, we move the ball very well. I got good shooters on the wing Amari, Curtis, and J’vonne, and it makes it easier for me because I’m a pass first point guard. If the defense collapses on me, then I got a shooter to the right, or to the left of me, and I have a good post player, Will Burke who can make the layup if I give it to him.

Q: You and J’vonne played together with Pulley this summer. I chatted with him last week, you feel you 2 develop chemistry before he joined CDH this year?

A: Yes of course because I know he’s a scorer and he knows I’m a passer so I know where his sweet spots is so it makes it easier for the both of us. 

Q: Do you plan to continue on as a 2 sport athlete in football and basketball?

A: Oh course.

Q: Do you or would you play both at the college level if you could? 

A: Yes.

Q: I saw you were a DB last year in football, did you play offense this past season?

A: Yes I was a WR and played a little QB.

Q: Are you in line for more reps at QB?

A: Yes I am.

Q: How much does playing football help with basketball and vise-versa?

A: It for sure keeps me in shape and also helps with my quickness and helps me get stronger.

Ryan Schmidt | Minnesota Sports Fan