ASU Basketball: Is Tra Holder On Track for a Breakout Year?
It’s widely known that basketball is a game of progression. The advancement of a player follows a usual track of growth: Young talent develops into poised stardom before descending into veteran wisdom.
While this progression is more widely seen on a professional level, it can also often be seen at the collegiate level. Arizona State junior, Tra Holder, is on track to reach his stage of poised stardom in his upcoming junior year as a Sun Devil.
Holder, a 20-year-old California native, has shown immense development over his first two years as a Sun Devil and is set to have a monstrous. In 32 games last season, Holder averaged 14.2 points along with 3.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1 steal in an average of 31.8 minutes per game.
Holder’s play has improved dramatically since his freshman year, raising his field goal percentage from 31.7% to 38.7% and his three-point percentage from 24% to a stellar 36.6%. Considering the rate of growth Holder progressed at between his first season and his second season, Sun Devils can be massively excited about his upcoming endeavors in the 2016-2017 season.
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Despite his constant growth and immense effort on the court, there are certain areas in which he must improve in order to lead his team this upcoming season.
Holder, while considered an average defender, needs to step up his on-ball defensive capabilities as well as his ability to read passing lanes if he truly wants to excel. If Holder can continue to push his offensive game while honing in on his defensive skills, he could make a huge impact on the Sun Devils’ season.
Holder’s ability as a playmaker is questionable as well. He averaged 3.7 assists per game last season which is admirable, but not quite enough to solidify him as a great point guard.
There’s no secret that Holder has a scorer’s mentality, which is neither a good nor a bad thing, but in order to reach the next level of stardom, he must prove himself as a leader and a floor general. Holder should seek to average at least 5 assists per game in the coming season.
Coach Hurley, Holder, and the whole Arizona State men’s basketball team will begin their season against Portland State on November 11th in the Wells Fargo Arena.
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