By Dan Ninham
There is a team leader among leaders on and off the basketball court at Hibbing High School in northern Minnesota this season.
Tre Holmes, 17, is a senior at Hibbing HS. Tre is the son of Tara Locke. And Tre’s brother, Tyler attends Hibbing Community College.
“I am a descendant of the Fond du Lac and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and I am of the Bear Clan,” said Tre.
“I am proud to be a Native American and being able to play the sports that I love,” said Tre. “I want to be a leader in the Native community.”
“Mr. Joel McDonald is my main mentor,” said Tre. “He has believed in me so much and has pushed me hard to be a better basketball player and do better in school.”
Joel McDonald, head boys’ basketball coach, Hibbing HS said: “I have known Tre for a number of years as he grew up in our program. I have watched him develop into a solid young man and an exciting player on the court. He has been a part of the group of guys we have at the top of our varsity level for all of that time and I have spent time coaching him as my son has played on that team too.”
“Tre is like no other shooter and slasher that I have coached. Prime example was during a recent game when he got an incredible break away dunk on an opponent and then followed that up with a made three pointer on the very next possession. He has the combination of athleticism and shooting ability that you don’t see very often. He also has nearly unlimited range with shots falling for him from out to 30′,” added McDonald.
“Tre is all about basketball,” said McDonald. “He has the body language of a baller and the skills that are tough for opponents to completely take away. He has been very coachable throughout and I have been fortunate to have played a role in his development as a skills coach and mentor. His mom Tara has done an incredible job raising him.”
“He will finish his career as one of our program’s best three point shooters. Without COVID, he may have had a chance to score 1,000 career points. He is on our top 10 in three pointers made list for single game, season and career.”
“Phil Roe and Kory Deadrick definitely gave me an opportunity to show my game and to prove myself,” said Tre. “They always pushed me to do better and when the people that you admire and look up to are pushing you. They both got me a lot of exposure with the AAU world.”
“Tre is a true competitor who can take over the game with his hot shooting at anytime,” said AAU coach Phil Roe. “He can hit shots off the dribble, has incredible range and can dunk all over! We love having Tre in our Playmakers North family.”
“Tre’s greatest attribute would be his loyalty and respect for his family,” said mom Tara.
“Raising two sons as a single mother has made my sons best of friends and the men of the household. Tre is very humble, well mannered, polite, and loves giving back to the community. He is always willing to help on and off the court.”
“Tre is really a dynamic player like nobody I’ve coached before,” said Joel. “His current streak is something we’re riding high with his two recent big games where he knocked down a total of 14 threes and scored 60 points prior to tonight‘s game against Duluth East.”
Tre was recognized as one of the Duluth News Tribune’s “Prep Performances of the Week” in February for his efforts. The team defeated Virginia 95-38 and Hermantown 113-45.
Hibbing defeated Duluth East 68-65 after losing to them 73-61 last month. This was their first loass with their only other loss being to Class 3A number one ranked Minnehaha Academy 87-73 two weeks ago. The 8-2 Hibbing Bluejackets traveled to the three-time defending Minnesota 2A and 3A state champion Minnehaha Academy in late February.
See Tre Holmes Highlights vs. Chisago Lakes January 2021 online at: https://youtu.be/TzW_xLkBi9g.
