JACKSON – For Randy Holmes, basketball has always been about much more than wins and losses.
As the founder and director of Team Swish AAU Basketball and the boys varsity team’s head coach at Jackson Township High School, he has built a program centered on developing young athletes on and off the court.
Team Swish consists of six teams with players ranging from sixth through 10th grade and competes on an independent Amateur Athletic Union circuit.
“While the program focuses on player development, its mission extends beyond basketball,” Holmes said. “The emphasis is on building self-esteem, strong character, accountability, teamwork and the individual skills needed for long term success.
“Because many of the athletes are from Jackson Township, Team Swish has also become an important feeder program for Jackson Township High School, allowing players to develop within the same culture and expectations before reaching the varsity level.”
Team Swish’s coaches are Sean Barksdale Sr., Shawny Person and Sean Barksdale Jr., Jackson’s junior varsity boys coach and a former Lakewood player under Holmes. Barksdale Jr. graduated in 2016.
Following last year’s merger of the two Jackson high schools, the Jaguars quickly emerged as one of the Shore Conference’s top teams. In just their first season as a merged school, the Jaguars won Class A South.
“It was the team’s first division title in at least a decade,” Holmes said. “This was a special group that helped establish the standard for what Jackson basketball can become. Its commitment to one another and its willingness to embrace our culture made all the difference.”
Holmes said the team featured several “standout” performers, including George Boley, Jimmy Pappalardo, Yaseer Johnson, Sean Hallihan, Paul Bradshaw and his son Randy Holmes Jr.
Boley averaged a team-high 17.4 points per game and added 100 rebounds, 77 assists, five blocks and 28 steals as the Jaguars went 18-7 overall, including 7-1 in Class A South. He netted 33 treys and 79 of 99 free throws. He scored 779 career points in two varsity seasons and was named the Class A South Player of the Year as a senior.
Pappalardo averaged 9.9 points per outing and paced the team in three-pointers made with 46. He put home 27 of 28 free throws, blocked a team-best 32 shots and added 77 rebounds, 18 assists and 18 steals.
Holmes Jr., who will play for the University of Hartford of NCAA Division III, averaged 3.9 points per game through 20 games. He put home 14 treys and 10 of 17 free throws. He added 75 rebounds, 11 assists, three blocks and 17 steals.
“Boley was a first team all-shore selection,” coach Holmes said, “Pappalardo was a sharpshooter. Johnson was our floor general. Hallihan was our blue collar leader. Bradshaw was our defensive specialist. Randy’s versatility earned him the nickname Swiss Army Knife because of his ability to defend, rebound, handle the basketball, make shots and consistently make the right play.
“Mi’Aire Anderson also played a key role, providing a strong rebounding presence and physical play in the paint. Other key players were Aidan Brown, Tyler Niman and Samir Talib.”
The Jaguars’ coaching staff also included Mike Antenucci, Don Connor, Sean Bayha, Steve Bado and Tom Bradley.
“I credit much of the team’s success to its outstanding coaching staff,” coach Holmes said. “Its collective experience and dedication have helped establish a culture built on hard work, discipline and accountability.
“With nine seniors graduating from last year’s team, this summer has become an important transition period for the Jaguars,” he said.
Jackson competes in the New Brunswick High School Summer League.
“The focus is less on wins and more on preparing a young roster for the upcoming season,” coach Holmes said. “The league gives inexperienced players valuable opportunities to adjust to the speed, physicality and intensity of varsity basketball while allowing the coaching staff to continue teaching the program’s system and culture.”
The Jaguars won two of their first three games.
“The Jaguars responded well,” coach Holmes said. “The team is led by juniors Mi’Aire Anderson and Sal Simmins along with a talented group of underclassmen eager to make their mark.”
While there is still work to be done before the regular season tips off, coach Holmes is encouraged by what he has seen.
“The summer is all about growth,” he said. “We’re developing confidence, building chemistry and preparing these young players for the challenges ahead. We believe the future is very bright for Jackson basketball. With a thriving Team Swish program continuing to develop young talent and a varsity program already building on last season’s historic success, the foundation has been laid for Jackson Township basketball to remain competitive for years to come.”
Holmes, a 1991 Lakewood graduate, is second on the Piners’ career scoring list with 1,936 varsity points, excelling for legendary coach John Richardson. Holmes averaged 29.6 points, eight assists and six rebounds per game as a senior. He became an assistant coach under Richardson.
Holmes took over for Richardson and guided the Piners to a 304-99 career overall record through 14 seasons. Lakewood won 11 Class B South titles, two New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association sectional championships and one Shore Conference Tournament crown. At one time, he was one of four Shore Conference boys basketball coaches who have won the SCT as a player and coach. He stepped down in 2020 to become Jackson Memorial’s head varsity boys basketball coach.
Holmes scored 1,022 career points in four varsity seasons at St. Peter’s University. His 35 straight free throws made set the Peacocks’ record in 1994-95. He tied their season record with an .853 free throw percentage in 1994-95. He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament’s Most Valuable Player in 1995 when he scored 24 points in a win over Manhattan in the championship game. Holmes was named second team All-MAAC in 1994-95, averaging a career-high 15.0 points per game. He led the MAAC in free throw percentage.
He played in 88 career games and started in 56. He averaged 11.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per outing for the Peacocks. He helped St. Peter’s to two straight NCAA Division I Tournament appearances. Holmes is on the MAAC Honor Roll as he was enshrined in The MAAC Experience Exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
He is a member of the Lakewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the St. Peter’s College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the MAAC Hall of Fame with his teammates in 1995 when the Peacocks of coach Ted Fiore went 19-11 overall, including 10-4 for third place during the regular season, and won the MAAC Tournament.
