Who is Stephen Holt?
According to David Pick via Twitter, 23-year old American Stephen Holt is set to be announced as Melbourne United's first import for season 2015/16.
https://twitter.com/IAmDPick/status/608259915359002624
So who really is Stephen Holt? Well we're here to fill you in on the flashy point guard before he makes his way to Australian shores!
Stephen Holt
Holt spent four years at Saint Mary's College, an American college well known to the general Australian basketball fan. With names like Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, future teammate Daniel Kickert and current students Dane Pineau, Jock Landale and Emmett Naar, Saint Mary's has become Australian basketball players home away from home. Holt now gets the chance to experience the real culture treatment once arriving on our soil. View image | gettyimages.com Spending four years at college, Holt's finest year was his last, averaging 15.2ppg in 34 appearances earning him a host of awards. A first team all-WCC selection, named NABC Division I all-District 9 and SMC's Male Athlete of the Year, Holt was the main attraction across the course of the 2013/14 Gaels season.
The highlight: a 35 point outing against Santa Clara University, hitting 14 of his 17 field goal attempts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C7Q3rE4yXQ
Going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, Holt went on to play five games with the Atlanta Hawks in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he averaged 23 minutes per game for 8.6ppg. Following his Summer League stint, he signed with Ludwigsburg, a German team in the Euroleague.
Not long after his decision to play in Europe, Holt was back in the USA signing an unguaranteed contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom he played one game with in the NBA Preseason (2 minutes).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpAzJM51tR8
Less than a month after signing with the Cavs, he was placed on waivers and spent the 2014/15 season playing for Cleveland's D-League affiliate Canton Charge.
During his time with the Charge, Holt started 44 of the 49 games he played at an average of just under 30 minutes per game. His scoring clip of 10.94ppg was seventh in his team's scoring averages, yet he accounted for 11% of the team's scoring last season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwHMCMfqb2I
Canton went on to finish second in the Eastern Conference (three conference system) with a 31-20 record, however went down to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final.
Holt's game wil translate well into the NBL. He's quick, has a nice touch and will always find a way to get points. Be it off the dribble, spot up shooting or getting to the foul line, Melbourne United will have found their man to replenish the scoring output lost from Jordan McRae's departure.
Both he and Todd Blanchfield will fit nicely together, as well as having the luxury of playing Holt next to Nate Tomlinson. He's one of those guys that plays the point, yet really he could be more suited to the two guard, making it easier on new head coach Dean Demopoulos.
Now, with Stephen Holt's background check intact, we await his official announcement regarding signing with Melbourne before seeing the American star light up the NBL!