Mercer basketball picks up ex-Wichita State player Ria'n Holland
Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman announced the addition of former Wichita State player and Indian Hills transfer Ria'n Holland to the men's basketball program on Wednesday.
Holland, who will be eligible to play this fall, comes to Mercer after playing one season of junior college basketball at Indian Hills and two seasons -- including a redshirt season -- at Wichita State prior to that. Holland will have two years of eligibility left at Mercer.
"Ria'n Holland is a winner," Hoffman said. "He has competed for championships every place he has been from high school to college. Ria'n is all over the floor and can put his stamp on the game in many different ways. He goes about his business in the right way. He is a tireless worker."
A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Holland is a 6-foot guard. The standout signed with Wichita State and was with the Shockers for two seasons. After redshirting during the 2013-14 season, Holland averaged 8.5 minutes per game on a team that defeated Indiana and Kansas in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16.
After the 2014-15 season in Wichita, Holland decided to transfer to NJCAA powerhouse Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. The guard thrived last season, leading the team to a 29-5 record and a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament. He averaged 13.3 points per game, and ranked eighth in the NJCAA in 3-point percentage with a mark of .504. Holland was a first-team Iowa Community College Athletic Conference all-conference team member.
"Ria'n has been an absolute pleasure to coach," Indian Hills basketball head coach Hank Plona said. "He plays with a passion that the Mercer basketball community will recognize and come to love very fast. I have no doubt that Ria'n is excited and prepared to help Coach Hoffman and the Mercer basketball program continue to be successful on the court, in the classroom and in the community."
This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 8:31 PM with the headline "Mercer basketball picks up ex-Wichita State player Ria'n Holland ."