Tre Holloman’s next stop may come down to a familiar offseason question: where can a veteran guard find the right mix of minutes, fit and winning?
The 6-foot-1 Minneapolis native, who spent his first three seasons at Michigan State before moving on to NC State, is in the transfer portal while also pursuing a fifth year of eligibility. At NC State, Holloman put together a solid season, averaging 9.2 points and 2.1 assists while knocking down 40% of his 3-pointers on four attempts per game.
Four programs are in the mix, and the best landing spot appears to be Cincinnati.
The Bearcats have a need. Tulsa transfer and projected starting point guard Tyren Riley hurt his hand a month ago, and while he’s expected back by October, Cincinnati also has Utah State transfer MJ Collins currently ineligible. That leaves room for another guard, and Holloman brings something the other additions this offseason don’t: high-major experience and a track record as a shooter.
St. John’s is another logical fit, even if the path to a starting job looks crowded.
The Red Storm already have their starting backcourt lined up with international point guard Quinn Ellis, Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou and returning guard Ian Jackson. Still, the depth chart behind them is unsettled, and Holloman could slide into a sixth-man role.
The other selling point is obvious: St. John’s offers the strongest chance on this list to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
Providence is also in the conversation, and the setup there is much different. New head coach Bryan Hodgson has rebuilt the roster from scratch, bringing in five transfer guards and Dink Pate, the former G Leaguer who wants to play college basketball. Pate may not be eligible, though, and if that’s the case, the Friars would have room for another experienced guard to work alongside Malik Mack, the former Georgetown guard and expected starter at point guard.
Utah State rounds out the group, but the Aggies may already be close to set. They added former Virginia starting guard Dallin Hall over the weekend and still have Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev back in the fold. There would be space for Holloman in the backcourt, but the Hall addition makes Utah State look like a tougher fit, especially with the program likely not having the resources for multiple fifth-year additions.
For now, Cincinnati looks like the cleanest match. St.
John’s has the best ceiling. Providence has a path if eligibility questions open a door.
Utah State, after the Hall pickup, appears to be the longest shot.
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Bearcats Suddenly Face A Major MJ Collins Problem Before The Season
A late-summer eligibility fight has suddenly put Cincinnatis MJ Collins in limbo just as the Bearcats are trying to settle into preseason rhythm. An Ohio appeals court has suspended a ruling that had given Collins and Xaviers Filip Borovicanin a fifth year of eligibility, leaving both players ineligible to compete while the case works its way through the appeals process.
The timing is what makes this so awkward for Cincinnati. The original decision had blocked the NCAA from enforcing the new eligibility rules that shut out athletes who graduated high school in 2022, but that protection is now on hold. Oral arguments could come as soon as September 22, and until then the Bearcats have to plan without knowing whether Collins will be available when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bearcats Wideout Is Suddenly Drawing Serious NFL Buzz
Cyrus Allens path through college football already gave him a little of everything, from stops at Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M to a productive season at Cincinnati that put him on the radar in the first place. Now with the Kansas City Chiefs, the former Bearcats wideout has kept pushing his case this summer, posting 27 yards on five catches across two preseason games while trying to carve out a role in one of the leagues most watched receiver rooms.
The buzz around Allen has only grown because of who is saying it. Former Pro Bowler Steve Smith Sr. has gone public with his belief that Allen has the potential to become the Chiefs top wide receiver, which is the sort of praise that can travel fast around the NFL. For Cincinnati fans who watched him finish strong in college, the next question is whether this preseason momentum turns into something much bigger once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bearcats Guard's Death Hit Cincinnati Basketball Close To Home
Cincinnati basketball was hit by sad news this week with the death of a former Bearcats guard whose years in the program left an impression that has lasted well beyond his playing days. He appeared in 57 games across the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons and earned a place on the 1998 All-Conference USA Tournament team, a reminder that his value to the program showed up at a meaningful point in Bearcats history.
The loss resonated inside the basketball family, where former teammate Alex Meacham and current coach Jerrod Calhoun both offered tributes that spoke to the respect Horton earned. Their remarks underscored how Cincinnati still feels connected to players from that era, with the program continuing to look back on the people who helped shape it and keep its identity rooted in more than just what happens on the court. [Read more 🡒]