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South View (N.C.) guard Rian (ree-Ahn) Holland wanted to end his recruiting as soon as possible. Some players thrive on the phone calls and attention. Not Holland.
When Wichita State basketball coach Gregg Marshall offered him a scholarship late last month, Holland didn’t need much time to decide. He gave WSU a non-binding oral commitment last week and plans to sign a letter of intent in November.
“I like how (Marshall) didn’t waste any time,” Holland said. “It made me feel welcome and wanted.”
Holland (6-foot, 140 pounds) visited Wichita for the first time in June for WSU’s prospects camp. He had been in WSU’s plans for the past year, with assistant coach Greg Heiar watching him as a junior. Marshall offered Holland a scholarship after the camp and Holland agreed after discussing the move with his family. Holland said he also considered Coastal Carolina, Virginia Commonwealth, North Carolina-Greensboro, North Carolina-Wilmington and Liberty.
“Wichita State is getting a phenomenal kid,” former South View coach Nathan Faulk said. “A joy to be around. As a basketball player, he’s a phenomenal shooter, probably the best shooter I’ve ever coached.”
Holland averaged 20.5 points and made 61 of 179 three-pointers (34 percent) last season. He shot 48 percent from the field and 77 percent from the line (101 of 131). He also handed out 3.6 assists and grabbed 5.4 rebounds.
He holds South View’s record for career threes (153), breaking a mark held by former Duke star Jeff Capel.
As a junior, Holland earned spots on the All-Cape Fear region team and All-Mid-South 4A conference team.
Faulk, who will coach at a different school this year, started Holland as a freshman. He played shooting guard for two seasons before moving to point guard. Faulk, who has known Marshall since his days at Winthrop, describes Holland as a scoring point guard and compares his playing style to that of Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
“If you want him to be a point guard, he handles the ball great,” Faulk said. “If you want to slide him to (shooting guard), he’s going to fill it up.”
Holland is the second player to commit to WSU from the class of 2013. Forward Earl Watson (6-7, 240) committed to WSU as a freshman at Chipola (Fla.) College, where he averaged 6.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. He will be a sophomore at Chipola this year.
