One of the Capital District's most prolific point guards in recent years put the closing statement on his open recruitment on Wednesday, when Life Prep Academy (Wichita, KS) senior - and former Troy High standout - Dyaire Holt made his verbal commitment to Division I Coppin State.
Holt was a major player at Troy for what seemed like a lifetime - he was a key contributor as a youngster on a Troy state championship team that featured current Siena post Javion Ogunyemi - and his role & reputation grew each year. Last season, he averaged 17.7 points per game and ended his season with a NYSSWA Class A All-State 6th Team selection. Holt, along with backcourt mate Zach Radz, was a leader of a Troy team that was a back-to-back Section II Class A finalist, losing twice in the finals to eventual back-to-back state champion Scotia-Glenville. This wasn't his first go-around as an all-state selection, either, as he was a Class A 2nd team pick as a sophomore.
Holt received the Coppin State offer in early October, not long after his transfer to Life Prep for his final high school campaign. After a wait of just a few weeks, he made it official just after the start of his basketball season. The Eagles will be receiving a lightning quick guard with increasing athletic ability, and despite being on the shorter end (his 6'0" listing would tie him for shortest currently on Coppin State's roster), has the heart of a lion. He's notoriously fearless in his attack of the basket, with strength at the rim and uncanny finishing ability. Dyaire showcased that electric play in this past summer's Empire State Takeover boys league at Union College, averaging 11 PPG in early-season appearances for Bellevue with a season high of 18.
Holt also makes the 2nd member of last year's Troy team to make a Division I commitment - the aforementioned Radz recently signed his NLI to attend Sacred Heart. Read about that here.
Coppin State is a Division I that competes in the MEAC. They'll be looking to improve this season on a difficult campaign in 2014-15, but have many returning players in the system. They will next year as well - with just one senior on this season's roster, they're one of the youngest teams I've seen while looking at rosters this month. The Eagles have made the NCAA tournament 4 times, most recently in 2008. An old collegiate teammate of mine transferred to play his final 2 years at Coppin State after his first 2 of JuCo ball; he's now a journeyman pro, with stops in the D-League, Canada, and now one of the top performers in the BBL in England.
Congratulations to Dyaire on the verbal commitment, and best of luck this coming season and down the road as well!
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