STARKVILLE — The transformation of Mississippi State’s basketball program under new coach Ben Howland continues.
Two months to the day after Howland was hired as MSU’s new coach, he added his second marquee recruit in as many months Thursday morning. Aric Holman, a four-star prospect from Owensboro, Kentucky, signed with the Bulldogs during a ceremony at his school.
“It’s a big deal for us,” said Howland, who has MSU at No. 19 in Rivals.com’s national recruiting rankings for 2015. “(Holman) is a special talent. He’s a big, skilled kid and we have a need at that spot. To find a player of this caliber late in the process like this, it’s a big day for our program.”
Holman, a 6-foot-9, 200-pound power forward, is ranked by Rivals as the No. 70 prospect in the country. He is also a Top 100 prospect across all three major recruiting services – Rivals, Scout.com, 247sports.com – and he chose MSU over offers from Texas, VCU, Auburn and Oklahoma STate, among others.
The athletic forward averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.9 blocks per game as a senior at Owensboro High. Along with his considerable size, Holman has also shown shooting range. He made 52 percent of his three-point attempts (24 of 46) last season, a fact not lost on Howland.
“He is tremendously skilled,” said Howland. “You’re talking about a guy that’s near 6-10, can jump, can really use his athleticism. But he’s also a very good shooter, both from deep and from the foul line.
“He’s also an outstanding passer on the interior, something this team needs.”
Holman had also drawn significant interest from nearby Louisville. Due to that, he had explored the option of attending prep school for a year before signing with the Cardinals, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. That’s when MSU came calling.
“That’s a big pull for Mississippi State,” said Eric Bossi, national recruiting analyst with Rivals.com. “He’s a stretch four, a guy who can make shots, particularly the mid-range jumper. He’s very athletic, but he’s thin. He does need to get stronger and he probably could have used a year in prep school to get bigger.
“I’m sure (Howland) will gladly take that year with him in the MSU program, bringing him along at whatever speed he wants.”
Howland says he didn’t see a player that needs seasoning.
“He can impact us right away,” said Howland. “When you have a skill level like he has, that brings a lot to the table. He is someone we are very excited about.”
Holman first talked with Howland in April, a few days after Howland became MSU’s coach. He then traveled to Starkville and took an official visit to MSU’s campus last weekend. Four days later, Holman made his decision public.
“What impressed me at first was talking to coach Howland,” said Holman. “He let me know that he has a plan for me and that he believes in me. I believe in him the same way. I think we can get Mississippi State turned around. He wants me to contribute right away.”
Holman joins a team that hasn’t enjoyed a winning season since 2012. The Bulldogs return four starters from a team that went 13-19 in the 2014-15 season, a group that includes guard Craig Sword, forward Fred Thomas and rising senior Gavin Ware, MSU’s most dependable weapon in the frontcourt.
With Ware manning the center position, Howland believes Holman can immediately push for time at the power forward spot.
“He has to get bigger, and he knows that,” said Howland. “But the skill level is outstanding. That’s what I see when I look at Aric.”
Howland wasn’t alone in showing late interest in Holman. New Texas coach Shaka Smart called, so did South Carolina and Miami. But it was Howland who landed Scout.com’s No. 19 power forward.
“I think (Howland) is going to be good for him,” said Owensboro High coach Roderick Drake. “I’ve heard he’s a pretty tough coach, and I think that’s what Aric needs. I think if Aric listens to him, he’ll be a great player for him.”
Building blocks
Holman is the latest recruiting windfall for Howland, who adds the Kentucky native to a class that also includes MSU’s biggest catch, five-star guard Malik Newman of Jackson. Newman signed with MSU on April 24, and Holman says that did not go unnoticed.
“I’ve talked to Malik, and he’s excited about it,” said Holman of MSU’s top signee. “With him and the guys we have coming back, I think we can have a good team.”
Newman was the first domino to fall under Howland, who has been tasked with rebuilding a team that has not enjoyed success lately. But with three Final Four appearances under his belt (2006-08 at UCLA), Howland appears to have chanced things for MSU on the recruiting trail.
“He can walk into a living room and point to his Final Fours, point to all his players in the NBA,” said Bossi. “That shows a player that he knows what he’s doing, that he knows how to win and get them to the NBA. That goes a long way. I think getting Malik Newman helped a lot, too, because that provided instant credibility.”
MSU’s recruiting class also includes 6-4 shooting guard Quinndary Weatherspoon of Velma Jackson High in Canton, and 6-9 forward Joseph Strugg of Montgomery, Alabama.
According to Howland, landing Newman was big on several levels.
“Well, first off, he’s a great player,” said Howland. “But I also think Malik choosing to stay in his home state and play for us has shown a lot of guys that exciting things are happening at Mississippi State. And kids want to be part of something like that.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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