John Holland is storming towards his dream of playing in the NBA.
Holland, a Bronx native, just finished his first NBA Summer League stint last week, playing five games with the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
After spending a year playing overseas with Choale Roanne in France, where he made the French All-Star team, Holland, 23, is looking to make a name for himself in the NBA.
“Quite naturally, I was elated [to get to play this summer],” Holland told The Post. “There was no Summer League last year so I was really glad to get this opportunity to show that I could come from a mid-major school like Boston University and still be a high quality player.”
In his best game thus far, Holland played 26 minutes and had 15 points, three rebounds and two assists in the Thunder’s 87-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
Holland just getting a chance to play in the Summer League is impressive considering he was not highly recruited out of high school. After attending Fordham Prep, Holland spent a year playing at St. Benedict’s in Newark because he felt that he had not gotten the right offers to play Division I college basketball.
“I’ve been under the radar my entire career,” Holland said. “I’ve learned to not get too high or too low, but also that the cream always rises to the top.”
Along with his father, also named John Holland, Holland credits his coaches, Fr. Charles Sullivan and Kevin Pigott at Fordham Prep, Danny Hurley at St. Benedict’s and Dennis Wolff and Pat Chambers at Boston University, for helping him get to this point.
“I’ve always had great coaches,” Holland said. “People don’t know that my dad was a D-1 player for Iona College in the 60’s. He was my first coach. I was able to put all of my past experiences to work, play at a high level and get this opportunity with the Thunder. Playing at this level is a constant learning experience.”
In his senior season at Boston University, Holland helped lead the Terriers to the America East Championship and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. Holland finished his career second on Boston University’s all-time scoring list. Despite not getting a chance to play in the NBA immediately, Holland believes the best is yet to come.
“Yeah, I was disappointed [to not get drafted]. I know I can play at this level,” Holland said. “I haven’t yet reached my biggest accomplishments in this game. I’d like to think of myself as on the rise.”
Holland will join the NBA Champion Miami Heat for the second leg of the Summer League in Las Vegas this week. Should Holland make the NBA, he would be the first Fordham Prep graduate ever to play in the league. Prep alum and Indiana Pacers executive Donnie Walsh was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors but never played in the league.
“It would really be an honor to be in the NBA,” Holland said. I can’t promise the Thunder or any other team that I’m going to lead them to any championship. I can promise that I will make them better because I bring the kind of work habits, attitude, energy and desire that is part of their culture. I’m not afraid to be a role player while I learn from the best until I can rise to greater responsibilities.
“If this doesn’t work out for the Thunder, I will have shown other teams in the NBA and internationally that I am a high energy player who can make a difference.”
Reaching the NBA wouldn’t just be a dream come true for Holland, but also for this parents, who still live in Co-Op City in The Bronx.
“I don’t think I can even tell you what it would mean to me or my family. They have been there for me before all this and I know they will be there for me after this is over,” Holland said.
asulla-heffinger@nypost.com