College Commitment – Kai Holmes (2026 Sheldon)

The Class of 2026 is rounding out their college decisions and you can mark Kai Holmes off the board. The Sheldon senior had been mulling over multiple options since the season ended but just wasn't feeling the right fit. But when Minnesota State-Moorhead recently came calling, the ears of the athletic 6-foot-6 swingman perked up. The more he found out about the Dragons the more he liked and Holmes recently decided to pull the trigger on a commitment.

"The main reason is because of the coaching staff making it clear in their belief in me from the first call," Holmes said. "Coach Kemp has a history of developing players with my attributes and he is a very experienced coach having been a D-I coach for 15 years. The school itself features an awesome Chemistry program which is what I want to study, so when they gave me an offer, it felt like a no brainer

even without a on campus visit. And I feel like they are truly building a winning culture that I want to be a part of!"

Holmes felt confident enough in the Dragons program to make a pledge and he for sure is planning a visit to campus soon. He's excited about seeing what the city and campus life is like, as well as taking a look at what nearby Fargo, North Dakota also has to offer. On the court, he's confident that he'll be able to make an immediate impact.

"There is still some wiggle room on that question due to an all conference player in my position seeking another year of eligibility, but they definitely think I will be able to carve out minutes early on whether or not he comes back," Holmes said. "They want me to be versatile and play the 2-4 which will open up more opportunities for me to get on the floor. They have made very clear in their goal of developing me into a true two guard by the time I'm done with them, so whatever minutes I get early on I'm not as worried about because I know a plan is in place."

NCAA Division II basketball is definitely a step up, especially in the Northern Sun Conference - one that's produced a couple of recent national champions in Minnesota State and Winona State. Holmes is ready for the challenge and knows what he needs to work on to prepare himself. "First and foremost is definitely strength and size," Holmes said. "It's one of the most physical conferences in D2 so putting on more muscle to my frame is the most important. Skill wise I'd say just making my scoring from all 3 levels as efficient as possible to be able to be a threat on the wing."

The commitment ends what might have been a little lengthier process than what Holmes hoped, but he's excited about the possibilities ahead. Looking back, he'll have plenty of memories from this past year at Sheldon. "I'll remember the new relationships I made!" exclaimed Holmes. "Transferring was one of the toughest decisions I've had to make, but the new connections I've made and friendships I've established are what made it all worth it!"

Our congratulations go out to Holmes and his family on his decision.