If you want to win an NCAA title you need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game were announced in January after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Nate Oats how he likes having 2022 honoree Brandon Miller at Alabama! Kentucky seems to be the big winner so far as Coach John Calipari will have a quartet of 2023 honorees joining him in Lexington next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Aden Holloway about being named a McDonald’s All-American and looking to the heavens.
You were born/raised in North Carolina: how did you end up at Prolific Prep? Coming from “La Lu” (high school basketball powerhouse La Lumiere) I just wanted to challenge myself with a bigger role and give myself a chance to prepare for college.
You have known your backcourt teammate Trey Green since you were both in kindergarten: why do you 2 work so well together on the same team? Our friendship/bond off the court helps us on the court. It is bigger than basketball: we are like brothers and have a lot of confidence in each other so it is easy to play with him.
Your team won 21 games in a row to start the season before a 3-PT loss to Dream City Christian in the “Crush in the Valley Showcase” (in which you scored 32 PTS): how impressed were you by Alejandro Aviles (who scored 24 PTS)? I was very impressed by his game. He made a lot of tough shots that not many high school guys are willing to take: he has great touch.
Your school has several alumni who will probably make the NCAA tourney this year (Adem Bona at UCLA/MJ Rice at Kansas/Coleman Hawkins at Illinois): how does your coach (Ryan Bernardi) and his staff prepare the guys to succeed in college? He pushes us very hard in practice and emphasizes every last detail. He prepares us every single day.
You received offers from several great schools including Miami/Tennessee but signed with Auburn back in August: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how far do you think the Tigers will go this March? The biggest factor is that it was the best fit for me. My relationship with Coach Bruce Pearl was the most genuine/honest of anyone.
Can you give me an idea of how Coach Pearl’s plan for you was the most thorough (how much playing time you will get/how you fit into his team philosophy/how to prepare for a pro career/other)? It was just the best opportunity that presented itself. Auburn has had smaller guards who have thrived there and he is giving me the chance to be great.
You weigh 165 pounds: do you feel comfortable playing at that weight in college or do you feel that you need to get a little stronger/heavier? I definitely need to get a little stronger and more physical. I do not want to gain too much weight but enough to hold my own against bigger defenders when I drive into the lane and get bumped…but I still need to keep my quickness.
Last week you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was definitely a blessing and dream come true.
How excited were you to see that 1 of your former teammates at La Lumiere (Jeremy Fears) was also named to the McDonald’s team? I was proud of him: he was my roommate for a year so we have a different kind of bond than just being teammates. He is like my brother and I am happy for him.
I heard that you are really into “stargazing”: is that due to the beauty of the night sky/wondering what else is out there in the universe/other? It is a little of both! I like nature because it is so beautiful and I am always trying to chase a nice view.