DAYTON – University of Dayton junior forward DaRon Holmes II announced today that he is ending his college career and entering the NBA draft.  He made the announcement on Instagram, adding “As always, GO FLYERS!!”

Holmes will be the third Flyer picked in the last five drafts — Obi Toppin in 2020 and Toumani Camara in 2023.

Dayton’s second-ever consensus All-American, Holmes was named to six All-America teams.  He was named a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press, the NABC and The Sporting News, and a Third Team All-American by the USBWA, ESPN.com and Field of 68.

The three-time White Allen MVP from Goodyear, Ariz. was Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.  He was the only player named First Team All-Atlantic 10 and to the league’s All-Defensive Team.

Holmes led UD in scoring (20.4), rebounding (8.5), FG% (.544, 217-399) and blocked shots (68 of the team’s 129).  He was also third on the team in steals (31), assists (86) and 3-pt. FG% (.386, 32-83).

He led the A-10 in scoring and rebounding, and was the only player in the conference’s top 10 in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and FG%.

Holmes is the Dayton career record holder in blocked shots (215) and dunks (241).  He finished 11th in career scoring at UD (1,745 points) and sixth in career FG% (.588, 630-1071).

Holmes is looking to become the fifth Flyer to be an NBA first round draft pick, following in the footsteps of John Horan in 1955 to the Ft. Wayne Pistons, the Paxsons – Jim the father in 1956 to the Minneapolis Lakers and Jim the son in 1979 to the Portland Trailblazers – and Toppin to the New York Knicks in 2020.