Jamal Holloway admits he wasn't giving football full attention at the start of his junior season. He wore the Panthers' purple and gold uniform, working through drill after drill, but thoughts drifted to the 10-point lead that painfully vanished nearly half a year earlier.
The coveted 6'3", 215-pound prospect from Camden High School in Southern New Jersey couldn't put Newark Tech out of his mind. That's the opponent who stormed back during the final stretch of a tightly contested 2014 Group II state title game to thwart the Panthers' aspirations for a championship.
"That one hurt a lot," he said.
Holloway, who doubles as a defender on the football field and forward on the basketball court, sought to solidify a lasting spot in the legacy of Camden's storied hoops program. He averaged a double-double during his sophomore season and led all starters in field-goal percentage.
A breakout season ended in the showdown with Newark Tech, a frustrating 48-44 defeat in which Holloway struggled to find his rhythm. Emotions from the game's aftermath lingered into summer and eventually football training camp, creating a slight hangover effect.
"I let that loss bother me for a while, probably too long," Holloway said. "I went through some trouble focusing on football early because my mind was thinking about how close we were to bringing home a state title. I was just upset about it."
It took a few live-action reps, but eventually he put things in perspective.
Postseason glory is also up for grabs on the gridiron, and Camden, unbeaten through six games, requires his best to make a deep run.
"I'm all about football right now," he said. "My coaches and teammates helped keep me on track. There's another championship to chase."
Credit: 247Sports
Holloway, who averaged 14 points per game last basketball season, conversely aims to limit scoring during the fall. He's an impressive edge defender with 80 tackles and 10 sacks since the start of last season.
Not bad for a player who briefly walked away from the sport during a span of his adolescence to focus on basketball.
These days, Holloway is chasing down quarterbacks with the same tenacity he displays during a drive toward the rim.
"Jamal is what we call a 'freak athlete,' and there's a lot of room for him to grow," Camden football coach Dwayne Savage said. "He's a natural pass-rusher who is really just starting to understand the game. He's the kind of player who can continue to improve when he gets to college. It's all about finding the right fit for him."
His options are mounting.
Holloway holds scholarship offers from Michigan State, Pitt, Temple, Old Dominion, Virginia and Rutgers. Plenty of others have hosted him on campus or expressed interest, including Ohio State and West Virginia.
"I like having offers from this region, but I'm open to go anywhere in the country," he said. "It's a chance to see the world. Education is the most important thing because a career in football is never guaranteed."
Holloway, who hopes to focus collegiate studies in the science field, has enjoyed a rapid rise in the recruiting spectrum. Teams across the country continue to identify him as a "high ceiling" guy who is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.
"College coaches always tell me I bring a lot of natural athleticism to the field, which they definitely like," he said. "They say I'm fast off the ball and like what I can do along the outside. There are definitely things I need to work on, like using my hands better, but they can see how I'm developing."
There's a bit of rawness to his game at this stage, but the promise is apparent.
"Jamal picked things up really quickly," said teammate Ron Johnson, a 4-star defensive end prospect. "Right now he's still figuring some things out, but he can take over sometimes."
His success is starting to come more consistently, evidenced by five straight games with at least four tackles.
College programs vary on where they envision Holloway within a defensive scheme. Rutgers, the in-state Big Ten Conference newcomer, hosted him for a victory over Michigan earlier this month and believes he's best suited to bulk up a bit and play defensive end.
"I really like the way Rutgers plays, especially now that they're in a bigger conference," Holloway said. "It's a tenacious defense that's always in attack mode. I could see myself there."
Michigan State has also emerged as a top contender and defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi maintains contact. Unlike Rutgers, the Spartans would prefer him to line up at outside linebacker.
Life in East Lansing, Michigan, would also provide an intriguing possibility for Holloway. Michigan State is one of three schools that have opened the door for him to enroll as a dual-threat athlete.
Along with Virginia and Temple, the Spartans coaching staff has talked with him about potentially walking on to the basketball team. It's a difficult task, notably done by eventual NFL stars Donovan McNabb (Syracuse) and Julius Peppers (North Carolina), but Holloway won't shy away from the workload.
"Playing both sports in college is something I would like to pursue," he said. "If the option is there, why not? It won't be easy, but that's a big goal of mine. I'm grateful that some of these teams are willing to let me do that."
With those plans at the forefront, Holloway concentrates on staying sharp in both sports throughout the year. His mindset will revolve around football for at least another five or six weeks, but preparation for hoops season becomes paramount as Thanksgiving nears.
"It can be tough to handle sometimes because I try to focus on one sport while it's in that season," he said. "But I still need to be ready for basketball, so it's important for me to work myself into shape and make sure my shot is solid, especially when it gets closer to December."
Holloway doesn't take days off of the grind and typically spends a portion of his Sunday working out with Camden basketball legend Dajuan Wagner, who famously scored 100 points in a game and remains New Jersey's all-time leading scorer.
MARK DUNCAN/Associated Press
The former Cleveland Cavaliers lottery pick is practically royalty within the community and continues to support local athletes, including one of the town's top basketball players who happens to be pretty darn good at football.
"He tells me to work on my fundamentals in everything I do and that will eventually pay off," Holloway said. "We don't really talk about the recruiting stuff, but I know he's here to help me when I need advice. That's pretty big."
Holloway is more likely to log 100 tackles in 10 games than 100 points in four quarters, but you better believe he has his sights set on matching at least one of Wagner's high school accomplishments—a state championship victory.
Whether Holloway is throwing down dunks or running backs, that quest remains constant.
Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report national recruiting columnist Tyler Donohue.
