| Recipient of the Coach’s Award as the team’s best defender following his junior year. Named the Southeastern Conference’s "Best Junior College Import" in the Jan. 7 edition of The Sporting News. Came off the bench to help take over the point guard duties at Florida (2/26/02) when Jon Higgins and Jenis Grindstaff went down with injuries. Had a big steal that resulted in a lay-up to cut into the Bulldog lead in UT’s upset of No. 16 Georgia (3/2/02). Broke out of a slump with a six point, six rebound and three-assist effort against Auburn (1/27/02). Had 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting in Tennessee’s 76-74 overtime win against No. 7 Kentucky (2/6/02). Scored all 10 of his points at Memphis (12/15/01) in the second half, including a clutch three-pointer with 14 seconds left to bring the Vols to within two points of the Tigers. Scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field in his first game as a Vol. He earned his first career start and played the entire second half against Tennessee Tech (11/16/01). Buzz Peterson’s first signee at the University of Tennessee, signing with the Vols in April 2001 out of Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan.
Thaydeus earned first team All-Jayhawk Conference honors in his sophmore season at Seward CC. First team All-Region VI selection. Ranked second in the Jayhawk Conference with 22.2 points per game. Connected on 40.3 percent (85-of-211) of his three-point attempts to rank 10th in the conference. Led the Jayhawk Conference with 2.83 three-pointers made per game. Set a school record with 45 points in a game against Labette County CC. Ranks fifth on Seward County’s single-season scoring lists with 732 points. Stands second on the school’s single-season lists with 85 three-pointers made and fifth with 164 free throws made. Also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Coached by Dave Brown.
Played at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas in his freshman season. Started 14 of his 31 games in the backcourt at Lamar. Ranked third on the team by averaging 8.1 points per game. Also contributed 2.0 rebounds per game for the Cardinals. Shot 37.0 percent (85-of-230) from the field ... Led Lamar to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1983. Led Lamar to the Southland Conference Tournament championship. Coached by Mike Deane.
Led Silsbee High School to a 27-7 record as a senior. Averaged 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Led Silsbee to the semifinal round of the state playoffs as a senior. Holden was a three-time all-district and all-region selection. Named to the Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold Team. Named third team all-state in Class 4A. As a junior he helped lead Silsbee to a 31-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in the state for most of the year. Earned all-district, all-region and all-state honors following his junior season. Coached by Joe Sigler.
Born: February 8, 1980 ... Full name: Thaydeus LaJuan Holden ... Academic Major: Criminal Justice. | 
