REED CITY — Jared Holmquist has concluded a long and successful basketball career but is now looking forward to being an accountant.
The former Reed City basketball standout played his final games recently for Trine University in Indiana. Last week, he was named to the 2016 National Association of Basketball Coaches Division III All-Great Lakes District Team.
Holmquist said he has a job lined up with Crowe Horwath, a CPA firm in Grand Rapids starting in September. His degree at Trine is in accounting. He’ll be graduating May 7.
But Holmquist also hopes to keep playing perhaps in adult leagues and pickup games. But he can also enjoy lasting memories of a fabulous four-year collegiate career.
When he picked up second team honors with his NABC award, it was Holmquist’s second all-region recognition of the year. He was also selected to the D3hoops.com All-Great Lakes Region second team. He’s Trine’s first player to earn multiple all-region honors since Ian Jackson in 2012-13.
The all-district nod added to Holmquist’s growing list of accomplishments from the 2015-16 season. He was named to the 2015-16 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for men’s basketball, and was named a finalist for the 2016 Jostens Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III men’s and women’s basketball player who stands out on the court, in the classroom and in the community.
Holmquist was also Division III News Player of the Month for November and was named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week.
“The first thing that was a ton of fun is we had a trip, right after Thanksgiving, where we went out and played two games in Pennsylvania,” Holmquist said. “It was at Carnegie Melon. We beat a team that was in its first year of having a program the first day. We didn’t play very well, played kind of sloppy. But we got to play Carnegie Mellon in the championship game the next day. They were a very good team. We were able to beat them and win the tournament.”
Holmquist was on the All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament first team again this season, ranking 18th in the nation with 216 field goals made and 31st in scoring at 21.5 points per game. He was MIAA Player of the Week three times during the season. Holmquist won six MIAA Player of the Week honors in his career.
“When I played well on the defensive end,” Holmquist said, “that transitioned well over into offense. Games when I had a good shooting night, it started on defense. I loved taking charges. Good things like that transferred over and helped me on the offensive end. Defense helped me overall.”
It was Holmquist’s best year individually and for his team during his four seasons.
“Obviously, a long-term goal was to make the conference tournament and be in the top four of the conference at the end of the year,” Holmquist said. “We achieved what we wanted.”
Over the course of his career, Holmquist scored 1,538 points, the ninth most in team history. He started more games than any player on record in program history, and was second in team history in blocks and third in rebounds.
“We knew if we won our last two games of the regular season, we’d make the MIAA tournament,” Holmquist said. “We were on the bubble if we’d make it or not. Only the top four teams make it. On our senior day game at home against Albion, I had 35 points, and it was the most fans we ever had at a Trine game in my four years here. It was my last home game and a must game for us.”
Trine was 18-9 overall and placed fourth in the MIAA with a 7-7 mark in conference games. It ended a memorable four-year collegiate career for Holmquist.
“Without a doubt, I have zero regrets from the academic and basketball side of things,” Holmquist said. “Basketball went exceptionally well. I loved the coach and the team. I’ve made so many good friends here. Looking back, I’m happy at my decision and haven’t questioned it once.”
Trine made its first-ever appearance in the MIAA Tournament Championship and won the most games as a member of NCAA Division III.
“In our conference tournament semifinal game, we played Hope at Hope and beat them to go to the conference final of the tournament, which we lost to Alma,” Holmquist said. “The game against Hope was watched by tons of people, and was a great atmosphere. To do this when they beat us twice during the year, was awesome.
“At the end of the year, I didn’t want the season to be over. I was trying to do everything I could to keep playing.”
