Abby Holtman commits to Cincinnati, Ryle basketball sends another player to DI
UNION, Ky. (BVM) – The Ryle High School girls basketball program has quickly become one of the state of Kentucky’s best at creating Division I prospects. While there have been plenty of other programs in the Bluegrass State to send players to college basketball’s top level, it’s the consistent way in which the Lady Raiders have done it that makes their work so impressive. After another strong season this winter, Ryle is set to send another player to the DI ranks as a part of the Class of 2023.
Ryle rising senior Abby Holtman announced on May 25 her commitment to the University of Cincinnati. She chose the Bearcats over a number of other Division I programs including Akron, Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, Memphis, Murray State and Northern Kentucky among others.
“They’re only 25 minutes away from home so that was a big thing because I want to be around my family and around for my little sister,” Holtman said. “They are really relationship coaches [too]. I built a great relationship with head coach [Michelle] Clark-Heard and I absolutely loved talking to them and learning about the program through them. Their whole team is like a family and I just thought that could be a place I could thrive in in college.”
Holtman becomes the third player in as many years from Ryle to commit to the DI level as she will join former Oregon Duck and current Kentucky Wildcat Maddie Scherr as well as Eastern Kentucky Colonel Brie Crittendon on college basketball’s biggest stage.
“It feels great because I felt a legacy has always been left behind with each graduating class having had one or two DI athletes graduate and I think it’s cool I get to be one of those and up there with them,” Holtman said. “Just to leave something behind like they’ve done for us I feel like that’s awesome that I get to do that as well.”
Like those who came before her, the 6-foot guard is more than deserving of such offers. This past season for the Lady Raiders, Holtman was the team’s leading scorer averaging 15 points on 42.4% shooting from the field. In addition she finished first on the team in made 3-pointers with 75, second in free-throw percentage at 79.6% and fourth in rebounds averaging 4.1.
“I think it was a successful season, she stepped up for us,” Lady Raiders head coach Katie Haitz said. “She was very blessed from the time she was there with highly-skilled other athletes so she’s had to learn each year to improve different areas of her game…She’s been put in a lot of different places on the floor and that only makes her a better player as she gets older.”
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Holtman also had a number of notable moments during the season including passing the 1,000 career points mark in February. For her efforts, Holtman was selected to the Northern Kentucky Girls Basketball Association Region 9 second team and was named to the Kentucky-Indiana High School All-Star Classic’s junior roster, putting her among some of the best juniors in both states.
“It feels great just because that’s what you’ve been working for the whole time,” Holtman said. “I’m excited for that and grateful for being recognized as one of the best.”
BIG CONGRATS to @HoltmanAbby being named to the @KYAllStarGame https://t.co/pKL44Q6zZM
— Lady Raiders Bball (@Ryleladyraiders) May 13, 2022
With her commitment, Holtman will be joining a Cincinnati team that struggled this past season. The Bearcats finished the year 11-17 with a 4-11 AAC record as well, being bounced from the conference tournament in the first round by Houston. The team finished ranked No. 236 in scoring defense and No. 268 in scoring offense in the country during the season. Cincinnati could also use some help from beyond the arc as the Bearcats ranked No. 272 in the country in 3-point shots made. Given Holtman’s scoring ability and size, her addition will certainly help improve some of those numbers.
“I know when I talk to coaches they’re really excited about her,” Haitz said. “Obviously they’re excited about her shooting, her length, her IQ for the game, her understanding of the game and her work ethic. She has a desire to be about the team and what the team needs and how she can improve herself to help the team. I think those are all great things she will bring to that team.”
However, before she can make her way to Cincinnati, Holtman will look for one last run with the Lady Raiders. After the team won four straight District 33 championships, last season was a down year as the team dropped the championship game to Cooper 60-49. Though the team would advance to the Region 9 championship with a spot in the state tournament on the line, they would again fall to Cooper 53-45, ending the season in disappointment.
While last year didn’t go the way the team had hoped, this year the squad will look to improve on that with Holtman and fellow senior Austin Johnson, another all region performer, leading the way. In addition, the team also has a strong class of juniors including Quinn Eubank and Sarah Baker, each of whom have received some Division I attention, continuing the team’s solid pipeline.
“For me it’s all about seeing them grow and mature as a confident, young woman who believes she can do anything that they put their mind to,” Haitz said. “It makes you proud to be a part of a small bit of their lives in that sense of helping them make those decisions of what they want to do and believe in themselves. The sky’s the limit and there are all these possibilities. It’s a lot of fun and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
With her college destination now set, Holtman will be able to put her full focus on her final season with the Lady Raiders. Given the current roster and the reputation of the program, expectations will certainly be high for Ryle to return to form next season. Led by Holtman, the Lady Raiders should not only match those expectations, but exceed them.
“I really want to end my career by getting back to state,” Holtman said. “I would love to get the team back there and to get myself back there for one last year. I think it would be really cool for all of our seniors to be able to experience playing on that big stage again.”
