Tre Holmes (Ojibwe): Senior Is Leading The Hibbing HS (MN) Bluejackets On and Off the Court

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. The 8-2 Hibbing Bluejackets are playing very well as they move toward the playoffs with seven games in the next two weeks.

Tre Holmes, 17, is a senior at Hibbing HS. Tre is the son of Tara Locke and brother Tyler, 20, 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.

“As early as pre-K, I was in any sport I could be, such as wrestling, basketball and flag football,” said Tre. “At home my brother and I always had a ball in our hands. We would play football in the street with other neighborhood kids. A few years ago our local newspaper took a picture of us playing because not too many kids play outside anymore.”

“Beginning in the seventh grade, I was involved in many travel teams that allowed me to play outside our school district. I played both junior varsity and varsity starting in the ninth grade. I attended a Pacesetters event in Walker, MN in 2018 and a Cass Lake weekend clinic in 2019 that was sponsored by the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Lynx.”

“In ninth grade I played with the AAU Playmakers. In 10th grade I played with the AAU Wisconsin Playmakers 17U team,” added Tre.

“I am proud to be a Native American and being able to play the sports that I love,” said Tre. “Not many Native American kids get a chance to be where I am today. I just want to show other Native American kids that you can do it, and you just need to start.”

“I want to be a leader in the Native community,” added Tre.

“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. He has given me opportunities when he didn’t have to but definitely led the way for me to be better and do better in both.”

“Phil Roe and Kory Deadrick definitely gave me an opportunity to show my game and to prove myself,” said Tre. “They both always pushed me to do better and when the people that you admire and look up to are pushing you. It makes you want to do better not only for yourself but also for them, and I want to make them proud of me. I am grateful for them picking me and giving me the chance to compete with the AAU teams. They both got me a lot of exposure with the AAU world.”

Tre understands the holistic dynamics have to be balanced in order for him to achieve at the top level as a student-athlete. The area of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs to be stressed each day in training and competition. The pandemic environment also needs to be adhered to in a strength-based and position manner.

“Physically, I’m trying to stay motivated as much as I can,” said Tre. “I use the weight bench and the elliptical, and that has helped since most gyms have been shut down. I played with the AAU team last summer, and not as many games as normal but I was glad to be playing. I played with the Wisconsin Playmakers and also asked to sub on a few other games with the Minnesota Comets.”

“Emotionally, I’m just trying to stay positive at this point,” said Tre. “It’s tough not doing normal activities.”

“Mentally and spiritually, I’m just trying to stay strong, focused and positive,” said Tre. “I’ve already been told that I have been selected to play on one of the top Playmakers North teams and I’m grateful for that.”

Joel McDonald, head boys’ basketball coach, Hibbing HS (MN) 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. With that being the case, I have gotten to know these guys really well and they should have an understanding of me right now.”

“Tre is like no other shooter and slasher that I have coached. Prime example during a recent game was 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 Joel. 

“Tre is all about basketball,” said Joel. “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.”

“Tre is a true competitor who can take over the game with his hot shooting at anytime,” said AAU coach Phil Roe. “When he gets hot, there is no stopping him. He can hit shots off the dribble, has incredible range and can dunk all over! Tre is also a great young man off the court who loves his family, teammates, and community.  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 ability to knock down the three and also fly through the paint to hammer a dunk down is incredible. 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” last week for his efforts. The team defeated Virginia 95-38 and Hermantown 113-45.

Hibbing defeated Duluth East 68-65 last night after losing to them 73-61 last month.  This was their first loss with their only other loss being to Class 3A number one ranked Minnehaha Academy 87-73 two weeks ago. The 8-2 Hibbing Bluejackets travel to the three-time defending Minnesota 2A and 3A state champion Minnehaha Academy.

Photo Credit: Flom Designs and Photography – Emily and John Law and Street History Videos