Richaun Holmes Hoping To Make Impact With Sixers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The 76ers have found more than their fair share of talent in the second round of the NBA Draft the last few years and they hope they have found another keeper this year in second round selection Richaun Holmes.
The 6-8 Holmes is a forward out of Bowling Green. He was selected with the 37th overall pick in the draft last month and he has made a nice impression so far in the Utah Summer League, averaging 11 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.
"It's been great," Holmes tells KYW Newsradio. "Getting a chance to play for this great city and represent Philadelphia out here in the summer league, it's been fun and a dream come true."
Holmes was the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2014-15 and first-team All-MAC. He is the only player in Bowling Green history to finish with 1,000 career points, 600 career rebounds and 200 career blocks. As a senior, he averaged 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds a game, blocking 83 shots in 31 games.
He talks about what 76ers fans can expect to see out of him on the court.
"I'm an activity guy," Holmes says. "I'll bring energy playing defense, doing little things, making hustle plays to just help my team win. I think that's something me and Philadelphia can kind of have in common, we work hard, blue collar guys, most definitely."
He says he was a little surprised that it was the 76ers calling his name on draft night.
"I actually didn't get a chance to work out with them before the draft," Holmes says. "So the fact to hear my name called by Philadelphia, I was extremely grateful for the opportunity."
This time in the Utah Summer League is the first taste of the NBA for Holmes and he says it has been an adjustment from college.
"Most definitely," Holmes says. "Just the 24-second shot clock, so you don't really have any time to waste any motion. Everything you've got to be quick, fast. You've got to pick up things quick. So it has been an adjustment. It's definitely been fun, definitely enjoying myself out here."
The Sixers take on the Jazz Thursday night in Utah Summer League action.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
