Izzo's kind of guy: Tough point guard eager to visit MSU this weekend
Tom Izzo knows what he likes in a point guard.
Izzo made it clear to Tre Holloman early in the recruiting process that Holloman is his type of guy, and it has resulted in Michigan State gaining Hollman’s first official visit.
“They’ve been talking about it the longest,” Holloman said.
Holloman, a 6-foot-2 point guard from St. Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall High School, will officially visit Michigan State this weekend. Holloman is ranked the No. 79 player in the country and is the No. 20 point guard prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com.
“Coach Izzo likes that I’m a true point guard, that I pass the rock around and he likes that I’m tough, like really tough,” Holloman said. “He likes the tough guys, the football players. That’s what I do.”
Izzo once won a National Championship with a guy who fit that description. Holloman says he’s heard that story before.
Holloman is a Power Five level football recruit. He is a 5.7 three-star prospect, ranked the No. 2 football recruit in Minnesota by Rivals.com, and No. 33 at the athlete position.
Michigan State will also be welcoming four-star center Tarris Reed of St. Louis (Mo.) Chaminade for an official visit this weekend, beginning today.
As for Holloman, Michigan State offered him a football scholarship last spring. Holloman said Michigan State has indicated that his visit this weekend to East Lansing will include input from Spartan football head coach Mel Tucker.
“Coach Mel Tucker has hit me up,” Holloman said. “They have been a little quiet lately but they still text me.”
In addition to choosing a school, Holloman is also weighing which sport he wants to play at the college level.
“I haven’t decided yet on football or basketball,” he said. “I’m waiting for these visits and then I’ll probably narrow it down. I don’t know. I’m just seeing my options right now and then I’m going to talk to my family about that.
“Playing both sports (at Michigan State) is always a conversation.”
Minnesota wants him for both sports too. The Gophers have a new basketball coach in Ben Johnson. He’s having to play catch-up with Izzo.
“Coach Izzo is a funny guy,” Holloman said. “He’s very hype. He has a lot of energy. I like it a lot.
“I’ve had a couple of Zooms, and phone calls with the Michigan State coaches, just a process of them getting to know me and see what I’m doing.”
Michigan State assistant coach Doug Wojcik is the Spartans’ lead recruiter for Holloman.
“Wojcik is my guy,” Holloman said. “Wojcik is just so real. He doesn’t hold anything back. I think he’s a great coach, a great recruiter.
“He likes that I’m tough and I’m a true point guard. He thinks I can run the show well.”
Holloman is a terrific passer who plays with flash and sass, along with the physical toughness to back all of it up.
Holloman said Nebraska and Minnesota are recruiting him the hardest for football.
“Nebraska likes that I’m a big d-back and that I can read the quarterback’s eyes good and can come up and hit,” Holloman said. “They like that I’m a good open-field tackler.”
He said Nebraska is recruiting him as a cornerback. Michigan State and Oregon State are recruiting him as a safety.
As for basketball, Marquette under new head coach Shaka Smart is coming on strong. Holloman is planning an official visit to Marquette in late June.
“They like that I play defense and they like that I can score the ball now,” Holloman said. “They like guards. Coach Shaka Smart thinks I’m one of the better guards in the country.
“I have no idea yet about other official visits but I will probably take one to Minnesota,” he added.
He said Arkansas, Michigan, Vanderbilt and Dayton want him to come for a visit.
But Michigan State is getting the first crack at him.
“I think the visits will be the most important thing to me,” he said. “I think all of my visits will be a case where I have to really sit and soak it all in and see if it’s the right fit for me, if it’s my kind of school. Will I fit there as a student and not just as a player? This is an important visit.”