DENTON, Texas (11/19/08) Head coach Johnny Jones and the North Texas basketball team inked Whitehouse standout and Texas Preps Basketball magazine cover-boy Jacob Holmen to a National Letter of Intent.
Holmen (6-8, 215, PF) was the District 11-4A Defensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-East Texas selection by the Tyler Morning Telegraph following his junior season, and adorned the cover of Texas Preps Basketball under the headline “The Magnificent 7” in the 2008 high school preview issue.
“Jacob will be a great addition to our program,” Jones said. “With his size, he is very versatile and can play inside or out. He has the ability to shoot from the perimeter, and has great passing and ball handling skills. Jacob comes from a great basketball program and a tremendous family. We are very excited to have him apart of the Mean Green family.”
Widely considered one of East Texas’ best players, Holmen averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game in leading Whitehouse to the Regional Semifinals last year.
He is ranked the No. 9 power forward in the Lone Star State according to TexasPrepInsider.com, and TexasHoops.com listed him as the 48th best overall player in Texas. As a sophomore, Holmen was named the 11-4A Newcomer of the Year.
ESPN.com listed Holmen as the No. 135 ranked power forward in the country. A versatile athlete, Holmen also lettered in football and track at Whitehouse.
Holmen joins Paris guard Shannon Shorter as signees to the Mean Green this year. Shorter, a 6-foot 4-inch, 200-pound slasher is pouring in 12.0 points per game and hitting at an astonishing 65.2 percent clip for the Dragons so far this year.
The Mean Green is coming off back-to-back 20 win seasons, and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2007. North Texas hits the road to face Sam Houston State on Thursday and Indiana State on Sunday. Both games can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.
