UD basketball’s star player returns after declaring, then withdrawing NBA draft

DAYTON — University of Dayton’s rising Junior forward announced Wednesday that he planned to withdraw his name from the 2023 NBA Draft and return back to his alma mater.

>> PHOTOS: UD basketball’s star player returns after declaring, then withdrawing NBA draft

DaRon Holmes II entered his name in the draft on Sunday, April 23. He then participated in the NBA Combine from May 16 to May 18.

However, after shifting his decision, he made a simple announcement on Twitter stating, “Let’s get it Flyer Nation!!!” The university’s basketball team also welcomed him back through their official account saying, “He’s Back #GoFlyers // @DaRonagon.”

Holmes, from Goodyear, Arizona, was a part of the First Team All-Atlantic 10 and named to the A-10 All-Defensive Team for the second year in a row.

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He led the Flyers in scoring (18.4), blocked shots (1.94), minutes played (34.2), and FG% (.590, 390-590) in 2022 and 2023. He was second on the team in rebounding (8.1) and steals (25), according to a spokesperson from the university.

He led the Atlantic 10 in blocked shots, was third in rebounding and field goal percentage, and fourth in scoring. He was the only player in the top five for four different statistical categories in the A-10. Nationally, Holmes had the most dunks in Division I during the regular season (89).

Holmes was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship after averaging 21.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.0 blocked shots in the tournament. During the season, he became the first true sophomore in men’s basketball to reach 1,000 points in his career. He is now already 43rd in Flyer career scoring with 1,073 points.

He is also the first men’s basketball player at Dayton to be named the team’s White Allen MVP as a freshman and sophomore. In his first season as a Flyer, Holmes shared the honor with Toumani Camara and Malachi Smith. Last year, he and Camara were co-MVPs.

Led by Holmes, the Flyers returned three starters from last season’s 2022 to 2021 team that finished second in both the Atlantic 10 regular season and the A-10 post-season championship.

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