As Blue Ridge’s point guard this season, Chad Holley led the Barons to their best overall record ever at 26-2. Considering the schools outstanding basketball history, that’s saying something. And after weighing a number of options Holley officially signed his national letter of intent to play for Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland on Wednesday.
“I was very excited and proud, just glad to see a good story come together like this,” said Blue Ridge coach Bill Ramsey of the signing. “This is a guy that works so hard. As an undersized player he had to work a lot harder than most and he put it in and now it’s paying off.”
On a roster chalk full of weapons in Malick Kone, Cameron Anderson and Isaiah Battle, Ramsey credits Holley with being the keystone to Blue Ridge’s success this year — the team won the VIC conference title and made it to the VISAA Division 1 finals for the third straight year.
“Chad has always been a very bright player, a constant point guard but this year he became a vocal leader,” Ramsey said. “He wasn’t just leading by example anymore. He became the quarterback on the court, and I felt that he was really the glue that kept it all together for us. This is the best record we’ve ever had. He was the guy that made us go.”
Holley played for the Barons junior varsity program as a freshman before making the jump to varsity and playing behind former Blue Ridge stand out Denzel Wilson. Three years later he’s headed to play for the Mountaineers
“He took a visit there and liked it immediately,” Ramsey said. “There was no hesitation so he committed as soon as he could when he got back. It looks like it’s a great opportunity for him. They need a starting point guard and he can definitely be that for them.”
Holley averaged 12.8 points this year to go along with 6.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals for the state runnerups. The senior also has maintained a 3.0 grade point average while serving as a Proctor for the school.
