Tre Holloman delivered some of the most memorable moments in Michigan State basketball’s Big Ten championship season this winter.
He officially will finish his college career elsewhere.
Holloman committed to play his last season of eligibility at North Carolina State on Sunday, closing the book on a dramatic final two months with the Spartans that turned him into a polarizing figure for MSU fans after his season filled with heroics.
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Holloman announced the move on social media Sunday morning.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound combo guard and co-captain entered the transfer portal less than 36 hours after MSU’s 30-7 season ended in the Elite Eight with a loss to Auburn. He averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 37.3% from 3-point range and 85.1% at the free-throw line.
Michigan State’s Tre Holloman helps cut down the net while the Spartans celebrate the Big Ten title after the game against Michigan on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Holloman started 16 of MSU’s 37 games, moving to the bench when Jase Richardson joined the starting lineup in early February. Holloman averaged 10.6 points, 3.5 assists and 1.4 turnovers over 23.6 minutes in his final 14 games as a reserve, though he shot just 30.9% from deep. That included an 0-for-10, two-point performance in the loss to Auburn, after which he was in tears at his locker.
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“This is a special place,” Holloman said in Atlanta. “I love my teammates, bro. … I wish I could’ve showed up big for my team today. I’m just sorry, man. I just feel like I let my team down.”
In 106 games over three seasons in East Lansing, Holloman averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 assists while shooting 40.4% overall, 35.6% from 3-point range and 81.7% at the foul line.
Along with Akins, Fidler and Zapala departing via graduation, MSU had forward Xavier Booker transfer to UCLA and Richardson declare for the the NBA draft after the NCAA run ended. Gehrig Normand also entered the portal along with Holloman.
Holloman, a Minneapolis native, provided three indelible moments in the Spartans’ 17-3 Big Ten finish that won the league title by three games.
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On Feb. 26 at Maryland, with the conference chase tightening, Holloman missed nine of his first 11 shots before throwing away a pass for a turnover near the Terps basket and then fouling Ja’Kobi Gillespie with 42.1 seconds to play. Gillespie’s two free throws tied a game that MSU led by nine points just four and-a-half 4½ minutes earlier.
But after Gillespie missed a deep 3-pointer with about 4 seconds to play, Jaxon Kohler grabbed a rebound to give the Spartans one last shot and flipped the ball to Holloman. He caught it in stride and drained a winning 3-pointer from well beyond half-court for a stunning 58-55 victory.
A week and a half later on March 9 in the regular-season finale, Holloman — a former 3-star football defensive back prospect who often toed the line on the court between fiery competitor and agitator — provided different late-game heroics to conclude his career-high 20-point performance in a 79-62 win over rival Michigan.
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Holloman had three straight 3-pointers that whipped the Breslin Center crowd into a deafening din as the Spartans blew out the Wolverines, 79-62.
With 37.2 seconds left and the Spartans beginning their quarter-century tradition of having seniors kiss the midcourt logo, Holloman picked up a foul to stop the clock and allow Izzo to sub out Frankie Fidler, Szymon Zapala and Jaden Akins one by one. However, two U-M players — “Phat Phat” Brooks and L.J. Cason — stood in the middle of the logo. Akins and Holloman each asked them to move before Fidler checked out.
Michigan State’s Tre Holloman, center, pushes Michigan’s L.J. Cason, left, and Phat Phat Brooks, right, back off the Spartans logo as senior teammates prepare to kiss the floor during the second half on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Just before it was Zapala’s turn, Holloman again told the Wolverines to move. When they didn’t, he shoved them in the chest. Holloman and Cason both were issued technical fouls, then Zapala and Akins continued the tradition without disruption.
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“It just goes to show the type of person he is, the type of player he is,” Akins said. “He’s just all heart, really. Tenacity. And I feel like he just wasn’t gonna stand for that, and I’m happy he did what he did.”
Michigan State guard Tre Holloman (5), left, argues with Michigan guard Phat Phat Brooks (8), right, during the second half at Breslin Center in East Lansing on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
During the postgame senior day ceremony, Izzo summoned Holloman to kiss the logo — no underclassman, even those expected to be leaving for the NBA, previously were granted that opportunity. The crowd roared in approval.
“It kind of meant a lot, man,” Holloman said. “It seems like coach has a lot of respect in me and trusts me. … This is home. I love it here, I bleed green. I’m just happy and blessed to be here.”
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Athletic director Alan Haller, who played football at MSU and in the NFL, glowed over Holloman’s actions after his shove of the U-M players. He said the intent to preserve the tradition for his senior teammates put Holloman “in my top three easily” among his favorite Spartans.
Michigan State guard Tre Holloman (5) goes to the basket against Ole Miss during the second half of the Sweet 16 round of NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, March 28, 2025.
“I wish the kid would have played football. I love that mentality,” Haller said. “Protect your home, protect your court. Be respectful. He showed a true Spartan mentality today.”
It turned out to be Holloman’s last kiss at Breslin.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tre Holloman transfer: Former Michigan State guard going to NC State
