2 years after the incident with Ja Morant of the Grizzlies, Josh Holloway focuses on his basketball career

Josh Holloway’s basketball career was, to say the least, no ordinary one.

He first rose to prominence as a guard at St. George’s Independent School in Memphis. His life changed forever after an incident at the home of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant that led to a nearly two-year-old civil lawsuit.

After his transfer to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, his court appearances and his current college basketball career at Samford, more people know Holloway today than ever before.

“I just live one day at a time,” Holloway told The Commercial Appeal. “I just try to block out all the noise. A lot of people know me from the city. I just try to block out the noise and just keep playing basketball.”

Holloway’s time in Memphis is currently limited, but he wanted to make an appearance at the Shelby County Basketball Pro-Am while in town. He saw the videos on Instagram featuring highlights from former Memphis Tigers guard Chris Crawford and Arkansas Razorbacks guard Jaylen Barford – two players Holloway looked up to.

He recently shared the court with Barford and Crawford at the Pro-Am and put on a great show. He shone with his build-up play and strong shots and fit seamlessly into the ranks of the professionals on the court.

“I was born and raised here,” Holloway said. “I love the support around me. All the people who have supported me since I was young, who just stick with me and stand by me.”

Holloway is entering his second collegiate season at Samford. Last season he played on a team that won the Southern Conference and qualified for the NCAA tournament. As a substitute, Holloway averaged 4.3 points and 2.1 assists in 35 games.

Three of Samford’s top five scorers from last season are gone, so Holloway will return with the intention of making a bigger impact.

“My role last year was really good,” he said. “I did everything I needed to do to help us win. I expect my role to get a lot better. A lot better. Just being the point guard, leading my team to the tournament and hopefully making a big run.”

Memphis continues to produce guards who go on to college and beyond, such as pro-am participants Jeremiah Martin and Jordan Johnson. Could Holloway be the last? Time will tell, but the 19-year-old seems to be putting the distractions behind him and putting his future first.

“My goal is to just get better, take one step at a time and hopefully make my dreams come true and make it to the NBA,” he said.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies sports reporter for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Josh Holloway on basketball goals two years after Ja Morant incident