Former Dayton Flyers forward DaRon Holmes II visits fans on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken in Kettering.David Jablonski - Staff Writer
KETTERING — As DaRon Holmes II signed autographs and posed for photos with Dayton Flyers fans at Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, someone approached him and said, “Welcome back to Dayton. This is home, right?”
“Just like you just said,” Holmes said on Tuesday, July 21. “This is my other home. It’s always great to be back. I’m so comfortable here. The people here are always amazing with the hospitality. I’m just grateful I remember when it all first started.”
Holmes arrived at the University of Dayton as a freshman five years ago. Now he’s entering his third year in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets. This was his second appearance in as many years at Lee’s, which he endorsed throughout his college career.
Holmes will spend a couple of days in Dayton, his visit overlapping with Obi Toppin’s, Dayton’s other recent All-American forward. Toppin hosted a golf event, the Obi Open, on Wednesday, July 22, and then a sixth annual youth basketball camp on Thursday, July 23, at the UD RecPlex.
Holmes hopes to return to Dayton during the 2026-27 season for a game at UD Arena. He hasn’t had that opportunity since his final game with the Flyers in 2024.
“It’s just hard because of our season,” he said. “It’s just very difficult. But I’m going to try my best.”
The last time Holmes returned to Dayton, he had yet to play in an NBA game. He missed what would have been his rookie season after tearing his Achilles tendon in the NBA Summer League in 2024.
Holmes finally made his NBA debut last season. He appeared in 25 games, averaging 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game. He also appeared in 13 NBA G League games with the Grand Rapids Gold, averaging 20.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.
“It was fun,” Holmes said. “I learned a lot after tearing my Achilles, just watching the games. It was weird battling two things at once. Am I going to be re-injured? And it’s my first year in the NBA. It’s like those two things were aligned, and it was very difficult to balance. But, overall, I gained great experience. I’m ready to attack this next year. I’m very excited.”
Holmes did not play in the NBA Summer League this month but did practice with the Nuggets players on the Summer League roster in Las Vegas.
“It was a very valuable experience,” he said. “I wish I could have played. It wasn’t my decision, ultimately.”
Holmes did play pickup basketball with NBA veterans in Las Vegas.
“I had a good showing,” he said, “so that was fun. I’m just taking things one step at a time, doing anything I can.”
Holmes reunited with Dayton head coach Anthony Grant and associate head coach James Kane in Vegas. They had dinner with former Flyers Toumani Camara and Nate Santos and former UD graduate assistant Leron Black, who’s now an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers, Camara’s team.
Holmes watched the Flyers on TV often last season. He played a pickup game with them on campus during his visit to UD in 2025. He said he’s ready for Dayton’s latest big man with star potential, 7-foot-1 center Amaël L’Etang, to have a breakout season as a junior.
Holmes also knows one of the new Flyers well. He played at Montverde Academy in the 2020-21 season at the same time as 6-7 forward Jalen Haynes, a Cincinnati transfer who signed with Dayton in the spring. Holmes was a senior that season. Haynes spent a post-graduate year at Montverde after graduating from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2020.
“We used to scrimmage and practice a lot,” Holmes said. “We have a good history. I’m glad he’s going there. I think he’s a very vital piece. He’s going to be huge. He’s physical. He’s a good leader, too.”
DaRon Holmes II
DaRon Holmes II (left) gives a high five to Arden Misiewicz on Tuesday, July 21, at Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken in Kettering. David Jablonski / Staff David Jablonski
DaRon Holmes II
DaRon Holmes II poses with Grady Moravec (left), Carson Moravec (second from left) and Arden Misiewicz (right) as Kathy Duffin (foreground) takes their photo on Tuesday, July 21, at Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken in Kettering. David Jablonski / Staff David Jablonski