University of North Texas Athletics
Future NT Hoopster Dazzles At UIL Regional Track Meet
5/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UIL Region II 4A Track Meet Final Results
DENTON, Texas (5/13/09) North Texas basketball signee Jacob Holmen carries All-East Texas MVP credentials on the court, but the Whitehouse High School senior wowed the Fouts Field crowd at the Region II 4A Track & Field Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The future North Texas forward won his qualifying heat of the 400 meter dash on Tuesday with a time of 50.77, but fell just short of a state championship appearance in Wednesday's finals. Holman finished sixth in the region with a finals time of 51.71. Holman also competed in the 4x400-meter relay as the second leg of the Whitehouse squad on Tuesday.
Holmen (6-8, 215) 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 upped that to All-East Texas MVP in 2009.
He adorned the cover of Texas Preps Basketball under the headline “The Magnificent 7” in the 2008 high school preview issue and proved them right with averages of 20 points and 11.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Holmen had the Wildcats ranked as high as No. 3 in the state entering the playoffs.
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. ESPN.com listed Holmen as the No. 135 ranked power forward in the country.
On the track Holmen is nearly as accomplished. He took first place in District 14-4A in both the 400-meter dash and the 4x400-meter relay. The top two finishers in each event at Wednesday’s regionals earned a spot in the state meet.
Holmen is one of three players inked by the Mean Green this season. He joins Garden City Community College (Kan.) guard and NJCAA All-Star Richard Thomas (6-5, 185, So., Rosedale, N.Y.), who signed last week. Shannon Shorter of Paris Junior College (6-4, 200, So., Houston, Texas) signed with NT prior to last season, and went on to the Region XIV All-Tournament team and the TEAC All-Conference squad.
The Mean Green is coming off three straight 20-win seasons, snagging the Sun Belt title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2007. North Texas has won seven Sun Belt Tournament games over the last three seasons.
