Brandon Holtz cannot live without basketball. The Bloomington, Ill. native has been playing since he was three years old, and has been a fan of Redbird men's basketball ever since he first picked up a ball.
"I love basketball," said Holtz. "I've been playing it since I was three years old. I've been coming to ISU games ever since I was a little kid."
Holtz remembers coming to sellouts at Redbird Arena, where fans had to fight to get a seat. The sharp-shooting freshman guard remembers the last Redbird team to make it to the NCAA Tournament in 1998. As the first Bloomington-Normal native to suit up for the `Birds since 2003, Holtz has made it his goal to help his teammates bring the tradition and excitement back to Redbird basketball.
"Coming to those games, the arena was packed," said Holtz. "I got to see the atmosphere of people everywhere that were all about ISU basketball. I saw how it can be at Illinois State and that's how I want it to be again."
Holtz can't contain his passion for basketball to just the court. When he and teammates aren't at practice, they can be found at Holtz's apartment relaxing by renewing rivalries on his Xbox playing the video game NBA Live.
"When I'm not at practice, I'm hanging out with the team," said Holtz. "We have an Xbox over at my apartment, so we get a lot of competition over there playing NBA Live. We can get into some heated battles."
When Holtz feels like he needs to take a break from basketball, he trades in his jump-shot for a driver and hits the links. He has become handy with the irons as he lettered four-years in golf as a varsity member of his Bloomington High School team. Holtz led the Purple Raiders to two Big 12 Conference golf titles and three top-10 finishes at the state tournament, including a second-place effort in 2002.
But even as the No.1 player in his senior season, Holtz didn't consider playing collegiate golf because of his love for basketball.
"Golf is kind of my laid-back sport," said Holtz. "It's just to take a few weeks off of basketball. I love how basketball is the physical, get-at-you kind of sport."
Head coach Porter Moser can see the passion that Holtz brings to the court. Moser can identify with that fire as a former player and believes that Holtz can make an impact at ISU.
"Brandon has a toughness about himself that is what I'm all about," said Moser. "His competitiveness, his fire, his passion and his toughness are what I want in this program."
Holtz's love of basketball has led him to Redbird Arena. He has realized a dream since his childhood, and hopes to restore the tradition of Redbird basketball. As a Bloomington-Normal native, he knows the excitement that he can help bring back to Redbird basketball.
