Xavier University Athletics
Tu Holloway's No. 52 Jersey Will Be Officially Retired On Jan. 24
11.11.25 | Men's Basketball
This will be the fifth former men's basketball player to have a banner in Cintas Center.
CINCINNATI --- Xavier University Athletics will officially retire the No. 52 jersey of men's basketball All-American Tu Holloway on Saturday, Jan. 24 as part of a celebration around the 2:30 p.m. game vs. St. John's. The number 52 will hang permanently in the Cintas Center, joining the 10 existing banners. The dates for the official retirement of two other numbers, No. 5 Trevon Bluiett and No. 10 Romain Sato, will be announced in the future and these will become the 12th and 13th banners.
Holloway, who graduated in 2012, earned reputation as an elite clutch player and winner who led Xavier to four NCAA Tournament berths, including three Sweet 16 appearances. XU averaged 25 wins during his four-year career, posting a 100-38 (.725) overall mark. In addition, he was the part of three Atlantic 10 Conference Regular Season Champion teams.
Holloway left his mark on the Xavier individual record book as well and still stands seventh on XU's all-time scoring list with 1,833 points, third in assists with 550 and first in career free-throw percentage at 85.2 percent. He recorded two triple-doubles as a junior and was one rebound shy of a third and is the only XU player on record with more than one career triple-double.
The honor roll for Holloway is impressive, including 2011 Third Team All-American honors from Associated Press, Sporting News, Basketball Times, SI.com, CBSSports.com and FOXSports.com. Holloway was the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year and named to the A-10 All-Defensive Team. He was named to the 2012 A-10 First Team as a senior in addition to a second-straight year on the A-10 All-Championship Team. He was selected to the Lute Olson All-American Team (CollegeInsider.com) and the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) District 4 First Team each of his final two seasons.
During his sophomore season, Holloway was second on the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg., including 26 points versus Kansas State in the classic 2010 NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal. The best was yet to come. He was second in the A-10 in scoring at 19.7 ppg. as a junior in the 2010-11 season, led the A-10 in assists at 5.4 apg. and ranked second in the A-10 in free throw percentage at 87 percent. As a senior, Holloway led the team in scoring in the 2011-12 season at 17.5 ppg., which ranked second in the A-10. He was also first on the team in assists at 4.9 apg., ranking fourth in the A-10, the only A-10 player in the top five in the A-10 in scoring and assists.
Four former men's basketball players (No. 23 Byron Larkin, No. 42 Tyrone Hill, No. 33 Brian Grant and No. 30 David West) and four women's basketball players (No. 11 Amber Harris, No. 32 Jo Ann Osterkamp, No. 33 Tara Boothe and No. 53 Ta'Shia Phillps) currently have banners hanging in Cintas Center. In addition, former President Fr. James Hoff and former Academic Advisor and current Faculty Athletic Representative Sr. Rose Ann Fleming are honored with banners.
"Just as hanging a championship banner is a symbol of excellence, honoring former players with retired jersey numbers is one of the highest honors a program can bestow," said Director of Athletics Greg Christopher.
Holloway, who graduated in 2012, earned reputation as an elite clutch player and winner who led Xavier to four NCAA Tournament berths, including three Sweet 16 appearances. XU averaged 25 wins during his four-year career, posting a 100-38 (.725) overall mark. In addition, he was the part of three Atlantic 10 Conference Regular Season Champion teams.
Holloway left his mark on the Xavier individual record book as well and still stands seventh on XU's all-time scoring list with 1,833 points, third in assists with 550 and first in career free-throw percentage at 85.2 percent. He recorded two triple-doubles as a junior and was one rebound shy of a third and is the only XU player on record with more than one career triple-double.
The honor roll for Holloway is impressive, including 2011 Third Team All-American honors from Associated Press, Sporting News, Basketball Times, SI.com, CBSSports.com and FOXSports.com. Holloway was the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year and named to the A-10 All-Defensive Team. He was named to the 2012 A-10 First Team as a senior in addition to a second-straight year on the A-10 All-Championship Team. He was selected to the Lute Olson All-American Team (CollegeInsider.com) and the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) District 4 First Team each of his final two seasons.
During his sophomore season, Holloway was second on the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg., including 26 points versus Kansas State in the classic 2010 NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal. The best was yet to come. He was second in the A-10 in scoring at 19.7 ppg. as a junior in the 2010-11 season, led the A-10 in assists at 5.4 apg. and ranked second in the A-10 in free throw percentage at 87 percent. As a senior, Holloway led the team in scoring in the 2011-12 season at 17.5 ppg., which ranked second in the A-10. He was also first on the team in assists at 4.9 apg., ranking fourth in the A-10, the only A-10 player in the top five in the A-10 in scoring and assists.
Four former men's basketball players (No. 23 Byron Larkin, No. 42 Tyrone Hill, No. 33 Brian Grant and No. 30 David West) and four women's basketball players (No. 11 Amber Harris, No. 32 Jo Ann Osterkamp, No. 33 Tara Boothe and No. 53 Ta'Shia Phillps) currently have banners hanging in Cintas Center. In addition, former President Fr. James Hoff and former Academic Advisor and current Faculty Athletic Representative Sr. Rose Ann Fleming are honored with banners.
"Just as hanging a championship banner is a symbol of excellence, honoring former players with retired jersey numbers is one of the highest honors a program can bestow," said Director of Athletics Greg Christopher.
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