Tre Holloman’s Journey from Michigan State to NC State: A Bigger Role, or Just a Bigger Question Mark?
When Tre Holloman entered the transfer portal this past offseason, it caught plenty of people off guard in East Lansing. He looked like a perfect fit for Tom Izzo’s system - a gritty, team-first guard who embraced the Spartan culture.
But as is often the case in today’s college basketball landscape, fit isn’t always enough. Holloman wanted more - more minutes, more responsibility, more of a role that matched his vision for himself.
That led him to NC State, where new head coach Will Wade was building from the ground up. It was a bold move.
Leaving a Hall of Fame coach and a perennial tournament contender for a program in transition isn’t the conventional path, but Wade clearly pitched Holloman on opportunity - and perhaps most importantly, trust. The kind of trust that gives a point guard the keys to the offense.
Early on, it seemed like Holloman had found what he was looking for. He was in the starting lineup, playing significant minutes, and even had a breakout performance in November that turned heads - a 25-point night that came with a now-infamous tweet: “It’s amazing what can happen when you have a coach who trusts you.”
That message didn’t sit well with Michigan State fans. Many had supported Holloman’s decision to transfer, recognizing his contributions to the program and wishing him well.
But that tweet - interpreted by many as a veiled shot at Izzo - changed the tone. Some fans began to question his motives for leaving, wondering if promises had been made behind the scenes or if NIL money played a role.
In today’s college basketball world, where player movement is constant and tampering whispers are never far away, those questions are almost inevitable.
Now, just a month later, the situation at NC State has taken a turn - and not in the direction Holloman likely envisioned.
A Familiar Role - and Familiar Frustrations
On Wednesday night, Holloman came off the bench for the first time this season in NC State’s 108-72 win over Texas Southern. He played 18 minutes - seventh-most on the team - and while he put up a solid stat line (nine points, four rebounds, three assists), it was a noticeable shift in his role.
He wasn’t the sixth man. He wasn’t the floor general.
He was just another rotation piece.
After the game, Wade didn’t hold back. Despite the blowout win, he lit into his team, saying there were too many “casual personalities” in the locker room.
He even recounted a moment when a player told him, “Coach, I’m tough,” to which Wade responded, *“You’re not even one of the 50 toughest players I’ve coached.” * That’s a harsh reality check - and it paints a clear picture of Wade’s current mindset.
He’s not satisfied with the team’s makeup, and he’s not sugarcoating it.
While Wade didn’t name names, the message was loud and clear: roles are up for grabs, and trust is earned, not given.
For Holloman, this has to feel all too familiar. At Michigan State, he was stuck behind veteran guards, playing limited minutes and trying to carve out his place.
That’s what led him to seek a fresh start. But now, less than halfway through the season, he’s back in a similar spot - maybe even a smaller one.
And the numbers back it up.
Since that 25-point outburst and the tweet that followed, Holloman has scored more than 11 points just once. He’s shooting just over 40 percent from the field in that span.
He’s still contributing, but he’s not the focal point. Not the trusted leader running the show.
Not the guy he hoped to be when he left East Lansing.
The Bigger Picture
It’s easy to look at Holloman’s situation and ask the obvious question: *Was it worth it? * That’s not an easy one to answer - not yet, anyway.
Every player’s journey is different, and sometimes growth comes through adversity, not opportunity. Holloman bet on himself, and that’s something you can’t fault.
But right now, the bet hasn’t paid off the way many expected.
He left for a bigger role and more trust. What he’s getting looks a lot like what he left behind - maybe even less.
There’s still time for the story to change. College basketball seasons are long, and roles can shift quickly.
But as of now, Tre Holloman’s transfer has raised more questions than it’s answered. And for Michigan State fans watching from afar, it’s a reminder that the grass isn’t always greener - even when it looks like it might be.