Hey guys, I just caught up with 2021 4-star power forward DaRon Holmes, Jr. Cal made his Final Four along with Arizona, Dayton, and Marquette. Below are key quotes. The rest will be saved for the article.
"Honestly, I didn’t get to know the current Cal staff until later in my recruitment because they had an older staff when David Grace was there. I met Coach Fox last year. They’ve done a really good job recruiting me. Coach Fox is really nice, great guy. Coach Wilson is a really good coach, nice guy. Same with Coach Francis and Coach Harriman. They have a great coaching staff across the board and a great culture. Not a lot of people expected Cal to make my final list, but they’ve done a really great job."-On his relationship with Cal and their staff
"Their main message and pitch is being able to fit in with their culture and seeing how the coach talks about the team. Coach Fox tells me how nice his guys are and how they look out for one another. And also the academic piece. That’s a huge part as well. And the playing style. That will fit me."-On Cal's pitch to him.
"Marquette made it because I went there on my official visit. Marquette and Virginia were the only official visits I was able to take because of the pandemic. They just treat their players well. A lot of the final four teams are similar coaching staffs. As for Dayton, they’re an underrated program. I like their support staff. Their coach does a really good job developing his post players. All of his players, really. So does Cal. That’s something I didn’t mention before."-On Marquette and Dayton.
"I’ve found they have players who are great on and off the court. Jaylen Brown, the way he carries himself off the court. He’s really intelligent. That’s what Cal basketball seems to be all about. All the Cal basketball players I’ve seen are great. I’ve met Ivan Rabb, too and he’s a really great guy. Now that Coach Fox is there, Cal is gonna be great."-On his impression of Cal as a whole.
"It might be before the early signing period."-On a decision timeline.
"Honestly, I didn’t get to know the current Cal staff until later in my recruitment because they had an older staff when David Grace was there. I met Coach Fox last year. They’ve done a really good job recruiting me. Coach Fox is really nice, great guy. Coach Wilson is a really good coach, nice guy. Same with Coach Francis and Coach Harriman. They have a great coaching staff across the board and a great culture. Not a lot of people expected Cal to make my final list, but they’ve done a really great job."-On his relationship with Cal and their staff
"Their main message and pitch is being able to fit in with their culture and seeing how the coach talks about the team. Coach Fox tells me how nice his guys are and how they look out for one another. And also the academic piece. That’s a huge part as well. And the playing style. That will fit me."-On Cal's pitch to him.
"Marquette made it because I went there on my official visit. Marquette and Virginia were the only official visits I was able to take because of the pandemic. They just treat their players well. A lot of the final four teams are similar coaching staffs. As for Dayton, they’re an underrated program. I like their support staff. Their coach does a really good job developing his post players. All of his players, really. So does Cal. That’s something I didn’t mention before."-On Marquette and Dayton.
"I’ve found they have players who are great on and off the court. Jaylen Brown, the way he carries himself off the court. He’s really intelligent. That’s what Cal basketball seems to be all about. All the Cal basketball players I’ve seen are great. I’ve met Ivan Rabb, too and he’s a really great guy. Now that Coach Fox is there, Cal is gonna be great."-On his impression of Cal as a whole.
"It might be before the early signing period."-On a decision timeline.
