Holifield signs with Three Rivers

Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sikeston's Will Holifield signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Three Rivers Community College on Wednesday. Present for the signing were, front row, from left: Gregg Holfield, father and Sikeston head coach; Will Holifield, Shelia Crosson, mother; (back row) Brian James, Sikeston assistant coach; Gene Bess, TRCC head coach and Bill Holifield, grandfather.

davidj@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Ever since Sikeston's Will Holifield began playing basketball in the seventh grade he dreamed of playing college basketball. Holifield's dream came true on Wednesday when the senior signed to play for Three Rivers Community College.

"You always dream of getting to sign to go play somewhere," Holifield said. "My parents went to Three Rivers and it is just a place that will feel like home to me.

"It's a great program and (Coach Gene Bess) is one of the best coaches in the nation. It's just a place you know that you can get better and every year compete for a championship and I really like the sound of that."

Holifield was a three-year varsity player for the Bulldogs and was a part of three conference championships, three district championships and three state quarterfinal appearances. This past season Holifield was a co-captain and averaged 10.5 points per game as Sikeston finished 30-0, winning the Class 4 state championship.

In his three years, Holifield showed tremendous accuracy from behind the arc, making 179 3-pointers while shooting 41 percent. He also shot 78 percent from the free throw line in his career.

"(Will) is a self-made player," said his father and Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield. "He has really put in a lot of time and worked hard and he wants to continue to get better and that is another one of Coach Bess' strengths. He does such a great job in player development. I feel like Will's work ethic will go hand-in-hand with their program."

Holifield saved his best games for the biggest stages, draining seven second half 3-pointers against Class 5 Holt in helping lead the Bulldogs to the St. Dominic Christmas Tournament championship. In the district championship game, he scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half to help Sikeston defeat Notre Dame for the district championship.

In the state championship game against St. Francis Borgia, Holifield was 4-for-4 from 3-point range in the first half, helping the Bulldogs jump out to an 18-point first half lead.

"(Will) is the type of player that when we needed him most he stepped up and played big games," coach Holifield said. "I know he has put in a lot of time, work, energy and effort and you get into those situations, usually that takes over, so hopefully that will help."

Coach Bess said Holifield's background of winning and attitude is what drew the Raiders to him.

"We think he is a hard worker, and it is hard to predict a new recruit," Bess said. "We like the way he shoots the ball and he's a winner and we will just let things fall where they may."

Holifield's hard work was evident on Wednesday as he is already thinking of how he can improve.

"I'm not really athletic so I need to work on my quickness and my lateral quickness along with my ball handling," Holifield said.

Holifield joins a Raider squad that finished 19-12 last season and will be joined by Bernie's Jordan McGowan who signed with the Raiders last week.

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