Dante Due to Become Dangerous

Ron Bailey, Publisher

June 11, 2008 - As a sophomore last year at Baltimore's St. Frances Academy, 6'3", 175 pound combo guard Dante Holmes proved his future is bright; the precocious performer not only displayed skills and grit, but has benefited from an impressive support network around him, all of which is bound to produce lofty results.

During a 29-10, season in which the Panthers were tabbed as Baltimore’s number one ranked team; Holmes dropped 11.5 points, 4.3 assists, four rebounds, 2.5 assists per contest, all the while exhibiting grit and moxie. He expects even greater things going forward.

Dante Holmes (12) is seen here battling Towson Catholic's bigger, stronger Brandon Greene for a rebound. He's willing to compete against anyone.

"It is a good opportunity for me" shared Holmes recently of St. Frances, before noting its head new coach (and last year's head assistant) Mark Karcher "made me a better player" as did and the team's MVP and one of the best players in the East, Sean Mosley, who "made me stay in the gym and work hard".

Holmes, an East Baltimore resident (Federal Street, with the Collington Square basketball courts also being home) can and has defended all three perimeter positions. Offensively Holmes is able to man either backcourt 'zish, though he is most comfortable playing the two (shooting guard), where he can slash to the cup and hit perimeter shots. As Dante's uncle, mentor, and hoops tutor, Carlos Green surmised, "He's an all-around player from the guard position".

Holmes (at line) on his game: "I'm a basic player wo does alot of things".

Because of his size - optimal for being a classic combo guard - Green believes his nephew must further develop his "ball handling and basketball I.Q." points Dante embraces. Holmes added "three-point shooting and playing defense constantly", the latter including "not loosing my man on help side defense" as additional facets of the game he must improve upon.

Talented St. Frances assistant coach Nick Myles, another in Dante's support unit, provided his assessment of Holmes' needed areas of improvement. The analysis was congruent with Green's and the young man's himself: "We will be looking for 'Tae to take a leadership role next year as a two year varsity veteran. He needs a constant jump shot, and will continue to work on his ball handling. I believe with his skill set, he can become one of the best combo guards in the Mid-Atlantic area".

Helping to bring about that development is not only personal skill work at St. Francis, but also sessions with D.C. area-based trainer, Keith Williams, as well as travel team participation; so far this travel team season, Holmes has played with two travel team organizations, DC Assault and the DC Blue Devils. The result has been an invitation to West Virginia University's Elite Camp.

With his own initiative, the help of Myles, Green - who Dante lauded, saying "He makes sure I get to all my workouts and talks to me about stuff I need to work on" - and Karcher - who Green indicated is "teaching him to prepare mentally and physically" - there is little doubt Holmes will receive more looks than the ones garnered from Maryland, Delaware, and now West Virginia. He could be the next rough and tumble guard to come out of the Charm City.

Holmes File:

Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo
Favorite Musical Artists: Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Gucci Mane, Shawty Lo
Does he like the famous/infamous Baltimore club music? "Only at a party"
Favorite Hooper: "It was Melo (B'Mo's Carmelo Anthony) but he let Kobe do everything to him, so now it's Lebron"