Westover’s Jalen Holmes signs with Chattahoochee Valley

ALBANY — The journey from the hardwood of Westover’s “Boston Garden” to the next level became official Monday.

During a ceremony at Westover High School, senior shooting guard Jalen Holmes signed to continue his basketball career at Chattahoochee Valley Community College, capping a resilient high school career defined by leadership, faith and perseverance.

Holmes was a key piece of a Westover team that put together an impressive 24-3 record this past season. As a senior, he averaged 13 points per game while serving as a team captain and earning Offensive Player of the Year honors.

But statistics only tell part of the story.

Holmes’ path to Monday’s signing included a major setback — a torn Achilles that threatened to derail his career. Instead, he turned it into a defining moment.

“I believe that that injury happened for a reason,” Holmes said. “It set me down, made me realize that it’s more than just basketball. I have to get an education, I have to be a great person, and I just kept trusting in God and believing in God. And I actually came back better than I was. I came back faster.”

That perspective was front and center during the ceremony, where Holmes made sure to recognize the person he credits most for helping him reach this point.

“I want everybody to know that, yes, it’s God that I’m here, but this lady right here has put me in the position that I am here right now,” Holmes said, pointing to his mother.

Holmes’ combination of scoring ability, leadership and work ethic helped guide the Patriots through one of their most successful seasons in recent years, and his return from injury only added to his impact on and off the court.

Now, he’s headed to Phenix City with a clear purpose.

“JUCO, I believe, is meant for me because I love the game and I love learning about the game,” Holmes said. “It just put me in that position of it’s more for me to learn and to get better. So that’s why I chose JUCO.”

WALB’s Morgan Jackson provided information for this article.