By Stretch Jenkinson
1/23/2024
Junior Forward One Of Five Standouts Recognized For Games Thru Jan. 21
FULL USBWA RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS– The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named University of Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II as one of five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week for games of the week ending Sunday, Jan. 21.
Holmes joins Zach Edey of Purdue, Kezza Giffa of High Point, Dalton Knecht of Tennessee and Jamal Shead of Houston as this week’s honorees.
For the 2023-24 season, the USBWA has expanded its national player of the week program that has been affiliated with the Oscar Robertson Trophy since the 2009-10 season. In past seasons, the USBWA has recognized just one player each week.
Holmes, a 6-foot-10 junior from Goodyear, Ariz., averaged a double-double in leading the Flyers to wins over Saint Louis and Rhode Island that extended Dayton’s winning streak to 12 games. He averaged 25.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots in the two games, while shooting .615 (16-26) FG, .400 (2-5) 3-pt. and .667 (16-24) FT.
In Tuesday’s win over Saint Louis, he scored 25 of his 29 points in the second half after UD trailed at halftime. He also grabbed 14 rebounds, blocked four shots and had two steals. Saturday against Rhode Island, he played a season-low 24 minutes, but still had 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and another three blocks. He did not play in the final 14:53 of the lopsided win.
In 36 minutes of action over the second half against the Billikens and the first half versus the Rams, Holmes scored 43 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked six shots.
Holmes leads the A-10 in scoring (19.4) and UD in rebounding (7.6). He is the only player in the league’s Top 10 in scoring, rebounding, FG%, 3-pt. FG% and blocked shots.
He is the only player in D-I who has more than 35 blocks, 35 dunks and 35 assists. Holmes has 38, 42 and 44 respectively. Holmes also has 18 threes and is shooting .439 (18-41) from deep. He had a total of seven made threes in his first two seasons at UD.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player. UD’s Obi Toppin earned the honor in 2019-20.
Dayton is 15-2 overall and tied for first in the A-10 at 5-0 with Richmond. UD is ranked 16th in the AP poll and 17th in the Coaches poll this week.
COURTESY DAYTON FLYERS MEDIA RELATIONS
