Hall of Fame
John Holmes played basketball at Southern Arkansas University from 1986 through 1990. He came to SAU from Eudora, Arkansas, after a brief stopover at Grambling State University for a semester.
Holmes is the all-time leading scorer for the Muleriders. In 105 games during his career at Southern Arkansas, he scored 2,290 points in 105 games for a 21.8 average. Holmes ranks one-two in the 600-Point Scoring Club at SAU, pouring in 658 points in 27 games for a 24.4 average in 1989-90 and 629 points in 28 games in 1987-88 for a 22.5 average. He leads the 500-Point Club with 598 points in 29 games for a 20.6 average in 1988-89, and is 21st in the 400-Point Club with 405 points in 21 games for a 19.3 average in 1986-87, his freshman season.
Besides holding the most points for a career, and in a season, records at SAU, Holmes has the most 3-point field goals in a career, which began in 1986-87, with 193 set in 1987 through 1990. He has the most combined field goals (two and three pointers) with 816. He has the most free throws made in a career with 463. He tied Calvin Thomas’ record for 44 points set in a game in 1989 against East Texas Baptist University. Thomas set the original record in 1952 against Henderson State. This gives Holmes five school records and a tie for a sixth.
Holmes was a Second Team National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-America selection in 1987-88 as a sophomore, and a First Team NAIA All-America selection in both 1988-89 and 1989-90 as a junior and senior. He made All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) four times, in 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, and 1989-90. He is the only ‘Rider basketball player to make All-Conference all four years and only two others have been chosen All-AIC as many as three times.
Holmes and wife Cecilia have five children, Shoneca, Kaylen, Joncee, and Jolanda Holmes, and Christian Mauls.
