Jalin Holland to leave Los Lunas for Arizona

LOS LUNAS—Jalin Holland will forego his senior season at Los Lunas High School and will transfer to Dream City Christian Academy in Glendale, Ariz.

“I just think it’s the best place for me,” Holland said about his move west coming in early June.

Holland, a 6-foot, 4-inch tall combo guard, is one of the most highly recruited basketball players in the country for the class of 2025, with scholarship offers from some of the top college programs in the nation. That includes Texas, Oklahoma and San Diego State, as well as New Mexico, New Mexico State, Brigham Young University and Colorado.

Many of the nation’s top basketball prospects are turning to academies and prep schools to prepare for college athletics. Holland’s father, Wilson Holland, Los Lunas Schools director of athletics, said his son will face high-level competition every day.

“We’re going to have players on (Dream City) who are as good as Jalin,” Wilson Holland said. “We’re going to play against other teams who are just like that,” each with several future Division I players.

Jalin Holland believes the experience at Dream City will increase his exposure to colleges and prepare him for the next level.

“Everything,” was the answer when Jalin was asked about what basketball skills he will be working on. “I’m looking forward to the competition.”

Wilson Holland compares Dream City to Albuquerque’s Hope Christian School, with both being private brick-and-mortar schools that have on-campus faculty and in-person classes. Some academies that recruit athletes use online education.

“Parents have to make decisions that are in the best interest of their kid,” Wilson Holland said about going through the process. “Make an informed decision. Make sure you have all the data.”

Jalin will live in a team house with other players and a resident assistant. His father said Jalin will be on scholarship and most expenses will be paid.

“It’s just a good situation. They are well taken care of,” Wilson Holland said about Dream City. “They allow their coaches to go out and get the best athletes possible to bring there and put them on scholarship.”

While Jalin is “excited” about the transition, he will miss LLHS.

“I love my community. I love everybody,” he said.

His father, who will continue at Los Lunas Schools, adds, “As a dad, I’m excited. You’re always sad when your kid is going to leave home, but that’s part of growth.”

Ultimately, Jalin considered transferring to one of three programs: Dream City Christian Academy, IMG Florida and ABC Prep in Albuquerque.

During the 2023-24 season with Los Lunas, Holland surpassed the 2,000 point plateau for his career and was named 5A First-Team All-State for the third time.

Despite often being double teamed, Holland averaged 25.4 points per game during his junior campaign, which saw Los Lunas (20-10) advance to the 5A state quarterfinals.

New LLHS coach Pablo Gabaldon will have plenty of holes to fill next season. In addition to the departure of Holland, four other Tiger starters graduated in May.

“I’m just grateful for the time that (Jalin Holland) put in and all he gave for the program,” said Gabaldon. “I’m just very happy for him. I think it will benefit him.”

As for next season, Gabaldon remains optimistic.

“Hopefully, we’ll peak at the right time and shock some people. I’m excited for this group,” which Gabaldon says has a little varsity experience. “They put in a lot of hard work, a lot of time. I think they’ll make people proud.”

Holland will begin playing with Dream City in June. There is not a set time-table for choosing a college, but Holland could begin taking official recruiting visits this summer and possibly sign a national letter of intent with a college during the early signing period in November.