Athlete of the Week | Lenny Holt integral to Brewer success

Amelia Maxfield Sports Editor

He’s not a high scorer or an all-conference player like some of his teammates. Instead, Lenny Holt ’09 is what men’s basketball Head Coach Mike Dutton calls, “an unsung hero.”

“He’s been an important part of our success. He’s an aggressive point guard, and we win when he’s at his best,” said Dutton.

Holt himself sees his role on the team as understated. As point guard, his most important job is setting up his teammates and running the offense on the court—a job he does well. Holt has 37 assists this season, averaging 19 minutes per game.

“He has a good assist-to-turnover ratio, he knows his role as far as distributing the ball and he plays full-court defense every game,” Dutton said. “You can’t ask for much more.”

Though he has always played point guard for the Brewers, Holt brought his game to a new level this year. Plagued by a foot injury during his first two years at Vassar, he is finally back to practicing regularly, and it has shown in his game.

“He’s healthy and able to concentrate more on basketball this season. He’s become more aggressive and he’s learned more,” said Dutton “[He’s] now benefiting from playing on a team with the same group of guys that work to better their teammates.”

Though Holt is an unassuming player on what is arguably Vassar’s best ever men’s basketball team, he doesn’t lose sight of what is critical to the Brewers this season: teamwork.

“My favorite part about playing for Vassar is being part of such a tight-knit group of guys,” said Holt. “My teammates are very gifted basketball players.”

“[Holt] is one of the friendliest, most personable guys you’ll ever meet,” said Dutton. “He’s the best kind of teammate, very dedicated to the team and the game.”

Besides teamwork, one of the team’s overall aims has been making the post-season tournament.
But the momentum that the Brewers were building toward the post-season was slowed when they lost their two conference games on the road to Clarkson and St. Lawrence Universities in January. Before that weekend, they hadn’t lost since November and were undefeated in Liberty League play.

Another weekend of back-to-back losses to Hamilton and Hobart Colleges on Feb. 8 and 9 have focused the Brewers and made them even more intent on finishing the season strong.

“No one will be satisfied unless we make the national tournament,” said Holt.

Currently with records of 14-5 overall and 5-4 in the League, the Brewers are tied with Hobart for fourth place. With five League games left to play (two of which are at home against Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Feb. 22 and 23), there is still hope for a post-season berth.

“[Making the national tournament] is harder now, but it’s still a very attainable goal,” said Dutton.

“Every conference game is extremely important. We’ve already put these losses behind us,” said Holt.

With the team already looking to the next victory, Holt will have another opportunity to step up for his team in an attempt to clinch a Liberty League victory and a national tournament bid, making Vassar history and recording unmatched post-season success.