Post by FriendsofAN44 on Jul 28, 2005 15:53:04 GMT -5
July 28, 2005
Hollis gets IU offer
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Mike Pegram
6-foot-8 forward Damian Hollis is a versatile forward that can play inside or out. He likes to compare his game to his father, a former NBA player and star at St. Bonaventure in the late 1970's. The product of Tavares High in Florida was at the Main Event in Las Vegas this past week and updated us on his recruitment including news of a scholarship offer from Indiana and other programs.
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He might not have been on the recruiting radar screen, but the fine play of Damian Hollis in the past month has a lot of recruiting analysts and college coaches taking notice. The 6-foot-8 forward has been on a terror of late playing for the South Florida Heat including several fine performances this past week in Las Vegas at The Main Event tourney.
While emergence on the national scene is recent, the interest from Indiana has been there for quite some time now.
"I think it has been since the beginning of my junior year," said Hollis.
That interest picked up this spring.
"They visited my school, one of the assistant coaches," said Hollis.
Hollis told us that the Hoosiers have recently offered a scholarship along with several other programs he went on to list.
"Seton Hall, UNLV, Rhode Island, Florida Atlantic, Florida State....I think that is about it," said Hollis.
Hollis told us he is not ready to list favorites and will take his time in his recruitment. The Florida and Georgia Tech staffs seem to be taking a close look at him during the games we saw this week.
Despite his lithe frame (190-pounds), Hollis was able to use his long reach to in Las Vegas to swat away several shots and finish at the hoop off nice drives. He also showed a very smooth jumper, hitting three from beyond the arc in a tourney game we saw on Monday. Unfortunately his team high 16 points was not enough in that game and his South Florida Heat squad was upset in a tight game by a team consisting of players from Fairfax High in Los Angeles.
Hollis is a versatile player who can play a number of positions though small forward (three) is his preference.
"I think maybe the the three or the two/three sometimes, but I can play some at the four as well," said Hollis. "But I definitely like the three."
That ability play inside or out is something that Florida player credits his father, Essie Hollis, a former 6-foot-6 star forward for St. Bonaventure and a 1977 second round draft choice of the New Orleans Jazz.
"He played in the league one year with Detroit (Pistons) and then played 11 years overseas," said Hollis. "He's the main reason why I am here. He started me down low and then he worked me out."
