BOYS BASKETBALL: Holmes a rising star for Rochester Hills Christian
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — When Kaloh Holmes was a wide-eye eighth grader in a varsity world, he was far from a deer caught in headlights.
Eligible under the sub-100 student rule set forth by the National Federation of State High School Associations and Michigan Association of Christian Schools, Holmes did not just suit up for Rochester Hills Christian’s varsity basketball team as a rare eight grader, but he was basically the team’s sixth man during a successful 2015-16 campaign.
With quickness and some decent handles, the left-handed Holmes logged plenty of minutes during that eighth grade year, helping his team to a 23-win season.
That was just the beginning.
During his career, Holmes has helped the Eagles to four league championships (2016-2019), one league runner-up (2020), three MACS Division I state runner-up finishes (2016-2018) and one MACS-I state title (2019).
Over five seasons, the Eagles have posted an incredible 116-18 record entering this week.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Holmes. “I never thought I could have done all that.”
Now, the smooth-shooting, 6-foot-2 senior combo guard is really lighting it up for Rochester Hills Christian and is the type of player that few fans of high school basketball in Michigan still don’t know of despite some gaudy numbers.
This season Holmes, who also plays on the AAU circuit with Sky’s The Limit and The Family, is a likely shoe-in for his third straight Wolverine Christian Conference Red Division League MVP and fourth straight all-league honors.
“I am going after a three-peat there,” he laughed.
Holmes had a love for football growing up, playing for the Pontiac Cougars youth program. When he transferred to RHC in middle school, he dropped the shoulder pads and designated his time to basketball and soccer, where he was also an all-league defender as a senior last fall and helped his school win a MACS-I state title as a junior. A four-year starter in that sport due to his athleticism, the sure-handed Holmes played both defense and goalkeeper throughout his career.
His main love is on the basketball court, nevertheless — and many college coaches have taken notice despite Holmes’ high school not being a MHSAA-member.
Already NAIA Pensacola Christian College has offered a scholarship, while Holmes has received some interest from Division I schools University of Detroit-Mercy, Central Michigan and Youngstown State. He has also been scouted or received letters from several other schools of different sizes — yet is far from making a decision.
“He’s been incredible for us,” admitted RHC coach Jon Bronsing. “For a small school we’ve been blessed with some great players over the years and Kaloh has surely been one of them. And with a young team this year with only two seniors, he’s stepped up and been a leader for us, especially this year. Last year we had a larger group of seniors, but this year we needed him to step up and lead.
“The thing about Kaloh is there is no doubt that he could play at the college level, including Division I,” continued Bronsing. “He’s so quick on the court and can do everything. He scores, rebounds, goes after steals, is a great passer and sets people up, and he’s become a leader. He’s gone up against Division I players in AAU the last few years and more than held his own.”
Although he still loves football — a sport he dreamed about as a kid coming a rising to a star — basketball is one of his on main goals. He looks to go into becoming a physical therapist after college.
“I still love football, but basketball is my favorite now,” said Holmes. “I really hope to play in college. I will keep working out after this season, working on my shooting and handles and other parts of my game. I will see if there is any other interest and then hopefully the right offer comes across.”
The numbers and recruiting trail definitely back that up.
Holmes already owns a 43-point effort against rival Troy Bethany Christian in game back in December at the Temperance Stateline Christian Tip-Off Classic. He also ranks well inside the school’s top 10 for multiple categories — including single-game, season and career.
He will finish top five in steals and is now the school’s all-time assists leader and all-time leading scorer, surpassing Adam Blanchard (second, played at Wayne State in late 1990s) and previous scoring leader Ryan Patton (currently a senior playing for Division II Elmhurst College).
As a senior, Holmes is averaging 27 points, 12 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 2.7 steals an outing this season over 25 games.
Holmes, who was born in Pontiac and now resides in Rochester Hills (his father still lives in Pontiac and mother in Rochester Hills), is entering his final weekend of his storied high school career.
The second-ranked Eagles (21-4) will play in the MACS Division I Final Four for the ninth straight season and will take on third-ranked Midland Calvary Baptist at 7 p.m. Friday at Clarkston Springfield Christian.
Top-ranked Troy Bethany Christian and Davison Faith Baptist play in the other semifinals matchup Friday with the MACS-I state finals set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Saginaw Swan Valley High School.
“We’re going after it,” smiled Holmes. “We won it last year and we’ve got a shot again. We hope to go out with another title.”
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