Defining Holton's impact

It is tough to characterize the impact forward Jon Holton has made on the West Virginia basketball program.

There aren’t flashy numbers or accolades attached to his name like players such as Juwan Staten, Kevin Jones and Da’Sean Butler had intertwined with theirs in recent years. Butler, Jones and Staten were All-American selections as upperclassmen while maintaining eye-popping stats as juniors and seniors.

No one has looked at Holton as even an All-Big 12 choice and in 60 career games at West Virginia, has averaged 8.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest. Those are good, but certainly not staggering numbers.

Tonight, Holton will play his final home game in Morgantown and one could argue, that without him, the program doesn’t make the dramatic turnaround it made over the last two seasons.

After a two-year hiatus from the NCAA tournament, West Virginia was back in the field last season and is on track to enter this year’s event seeded well as a two, three or four-seed. Of course, head coach Bob Huggins navigated the return to national relevance and success with the installation of a frenetic full court pressure defense, but the player filling the most pivotal role in the scheme has only been Holton.

The six-foot-seven, 220-pounder fits perfectly atop the defense straining up and down the court to pinpoint anywhere the opponents’ stress resides.

“To tell you the truth, it is all energy and spirit,” Holton said.

“I know when we press, I have to run to that first trap and then to the second trap and then to the third trap and even down court to the fourth trap. Teams don’t expect it.”

Within the defense, when Holton is on the floor, typically confusion ensues for the opponent. Holton leads the team in deflections.

During a four-game span, Holton missed due to suspension last month, West Virginia forced only 13.7 turnovers per game. In the 25 games he has played in this season, West Virginia forced its opponent to turn the ball over 18.8 times per game.

“(Jon) Holton, I think is probably the key to their team as much as anybody,” Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford said earlier this year.

The tantalizing defense starts with the way Holton attacks the inbounds pass. Between his 80-inch wingspan and his literal screams into the face of the passer, he is the catalyst for chaos, which is exactly what West Virginia needs.

If West Virginia can have its opponent sped up before the ball is put in play, odds are the press will result in a steal, turnover, or at worst, a rushed shot.

“I try to psych people out and I think it worked over the last two years,” Holton said. “All those players just look at me like I’m crazy, but I do it so we can win.”

Whether or not Holton stands as the top reason for West Virginia’s one-eighty or triumph in the press, his level of value creates an interesting debate.

Another question, not worth the same discussion, is just how difficult replacing Holton will be for Huggins next year.

“I think he (Holton) will be difficult to replace,” Huggins said. “But, I do think Nate (Adrian) has done a really good job. Nate’s understanding of playing that position has really improved, so it is comforting to have someone like him back.”

“Also, Lamont (West) has great length and is a guy that we were trying to groom to takeover that spot.”