‘We never planned it that way’: Holmes siblings at home coaching at Carmel Christian
BY STEVE LYTTLE NOVEMBER 25, 2022 6:00 AM
Chavis and Travis Holmes insist it was never planned this way.
They never planned to get married three weeks apart. They never planned to have two children each, born within three months of one another.
And the twin brothers said they never planned to wind up working together on the same high school basketball coaching staff. But they all say Carmel Christian, a private school in southeast Charlotte, is home.
And to have their little sister at the same school, coaching the girls’ basketball team?
“We never planned it that way,” said Kendria Holmes, the “little sister” and Carmel’s girls’ head coach.
But the twins, who are NCAA record-holders, are working together this year under Carmel Christian boys’ head coach Joe Badgett, whose team plays in a Thanksgiving tournament in Atlanta this weekend. And they’re keeping an eye on their sister, who coached middle school boys’ and girls’ teams at Carmel for several years before taking over the girls’ high school varsity this season.
“We’re lucky to have these three siblings here,” Badgett said. “They add a lot to the school and the athletic program.”
Chavis Holmes, the older of the twins by a few minutes (they’re both 36), joined Badgett’s staff two years ago. Travis arrived this year.
“It just happened,” he said. “I was at Bradford Prep, but I found out that there was an opening at Carmel Christian. Coach Badgett said he’d love to have me. And I was happy to come here.”
BOUNCE, BOUNCE, BOUNCE’
Basketball always has been a big part of life for the Holmes siblings, their mother, Regina, said. “Bounce, bounce, bounce,” she said, remembering the sound that reverberated in their north Charlotte backyard when their three children were younger. “It was always basketball. They all loved it from the start.”
Perhaps understandable, given that the Chavis siblings are cousins of former NBA great James Worthy. Chavis and Travis, now 36, played on a Vance High (now Chambers) team that won the 2003 4A state championship. They spent their junior and senior seasons at Christ School, near Asheville, winning more titles and earning all-state honors.
Then they each chose Virginia Military for college.
“We didn’t plan it that way,” Travis Holmes said. “We each liked the school.”
BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
The Holmes brothers, each a 6-4 guard, were among NCAA leaders in steals throughout their careers. In fact, Travis Holmes led Division 1 in steals his sophomore season, and Chavis ranked fourth.
“When we were younger, we competed against each other,” Chavis Holmes said. “But it was all in competitive fun. We were always close.”
They finally separated after college, each playing professionally overseas. Travis played in Iceland, Israel and England. Chavis was on teams in Spain, Mexico, England and Germany.
Meanwhile, Kendria, a 5-5 guard, was also doing well. She led Victory Christian to multiple state championships in high school, then went on to Providence, where she was named to the Big East all-freshman team. She transferred to Charlotte, and played several seasons with the 49ers.
“The best thing about my brothers is that they always let me hang around, when they were kids playing basketball,” she said. “That helped my game a lot.”
FOLLOWING THE KIDS
Through it all, their parents, Regina and Kenneth, logged thousands of miles, driving to see them play.
“One time, I drove from here to VMI to watch the boys, and then drove from there to Providence to see Kendria,” Regina recalled. “We did a lot of driving!”
Regina and Kenneth are still following their children, although part of their job in the stands at Carmel Christian games involves helping keep an eye on the grandchildren.
Chavis and Travis said they have found a home at Carmel Christian.
“Joe’s a good guy,” Travis said. “He’s a man of faith, a man of principles. He has the same core values we have.”
“It’s great to be a part of what he’s doing here,” Chavis added.
Badgett said the Holmes brothers have added a lot to the program and have the talent to be top-notch coaches.
“We don’t always agree with one another,” Travis said. “But we don’t get into arguments. We talk it out.”
NATURAL ATHLETES
Regina Holmes said her three children are natural athletes.
“They’re good golfers,” she said. And they’re close, she added.
“They’ve always been that way.”
Travis and Chavis are coaching a team that is ranked No. 1 among private schools in North Carolina, for a program that won the 4A state title last season.
“We’re still a work in progress this year,” Chavis said.
“Right now, we’re just scratching the surface.
There are some great kids on this team.” Travis added, “We know we’ll catch everyone’s best shot.”
Kendria, meanwhile, is building the girls’ program. She has several eighth-graders and freshmen on the roster.
“We’ll get there,” she said. “We’re building this program, and we have some very good young players.”
She seems to take delight in the way her older brothers seem to shadow each other’s life experiences — getting married around the same time, having children around the same time.
“Trust me,” Travis Holmes said to her sister. “We didn’t plan it that way.”
Kendria and Regina Holmes also are proud that the brothers hold a place in the NCAA record book — for the most career points ever scored by twins.
“That’s another thing we didn’t plan,” Chavis said, breaking into a laugh.
BY STEVE LYTTLE NOVEMBER 25, 2022 6:00 AM
Chavis and Travis Holmes insist it was never planned this way.
They never planned to get married three weeks apart. They never planned to have two children each, born within three months of one another.
And the twin brothers said they never planned to wind up working together on the same high school basketball coaching staff. But they all say Carmel Christian, a private school in southeast Charlotte, is home.
And to have their little sister at the same school, coaching the girls’ basketball team?
“We never planned it that way,” said Kendria Holmes, the “little sister” and Carmel’s girls’ head coach.
But the twins, who are NCAA record-holders, are working together this year under Carmel Christian boys’ head coach Joe Badgett, whose team plays in a Thanksgiving tournament in Atlanta this weekend. And they’re keeping an eye on their sister, who coached middle school boys’ and girls’ teams at Carmel for several years before taking over the girls’ high school varsity this season.
“We’re lucky to have these three siblings here,” Badgett said. “They add a lot to the school and the athletic program.”
Chavis Holmes, the older of the twins by a few minutes (they’re both 36), joined Badgett’s staff two years ago. Travis arrived this year.
“It just happened,” he said. “I was at Bradford Prep, but I found out that there was an opening at Carmel Christian. Coach Badgett said he’d love to have me. And I was happy to come here.”
BOUNCE, BOUNCE, BOUNCE’
Basketball always has been a big part of life for the Holmes siblings, their mother, Regina, said. “Bounce, bounce, bounce,” she said, remembering the sound that reverberated in their north Charlotte backyard when their three children were younger. “It was always basketball. They all loved it from the start.”
Perhaps understandable, given that the Chavis siblings are cousins of former NBA great James Worthy. Chavis and Travis, now 36, played on a Vance High (now Chambers) team that won the 2003 4A state championship. They spent their junior and senior seasons at Christ School, near Asheville, winning more titles and earning all-state honors.
Then they each chose Virginia Military for college.
“We didn’t plan it that way,” Travis Holmes said. “We each liked the school.”
BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL
The Holmes brothers, each a 6-4 guard, were among NCAA leaders in steals throughout their careers. In fact, Travis Holmes led Division 1 in steals his sophomore season, and Chavis ranked fourth.
“When we were younger, we competed against each other,” Chavis Holmes said. “But it was all in competitive fun. We were always close.”
They finally separated after college, each playing professionally overseas. Travis played in Iceland, Israel and England. Chavis was on teams in Spain, Mexico, England and Germany.
Meanwhile, Kendria, a 5-5 guard, was also doing well. She led Victory Christian to multiple state championships in high school, then went on to Providence, where she was named to the Big East all-freshman team. She transferred to Charlotte, and played several seasons with the 49ers.
“The best thing about my brothers is that they always let me hang around, when they were kids playing basketball,” she said. “That helped my game a lot.”
FOLLOWING THE KIDS
Through it all, their parents, Regina and Kenneth, logged thousands of miles, driving to see them play.
“One time, I drove from here to VMI to watch the boys, and then drove from there to Providence to see Kendria,” Regina recalled. “We did a lot of driving!”
Regina and Kenneth are still following their children, although part of their job in the stands at Carmel Christian games involves helping keep an eye on the grandchildren.
Chavis and Travis said they have found a home at Carmel Christian.
“Joe’s a good guy,” Travis said. “He’s a man of faith, a man of principles. He has the same core values we have.”
“It’s great to be a part of what he’s doing here,” Chavis added.
Badgett said the Holmes brothers have added a lot to the program and have the talent to be top-notch coaches.
“We don’t always agree with one another,” Travis said. “But we don’t get into arguments. We talk it out.”
NATURAL ATHLETES
Regina Holmes said her three children are natural athletes.
“They’re good golfers,” she said. And they’re close, she added.
“They’ve always been that way.”
Travis and Chavis are coaching a team that is ranked No. 1 among private schools in North Carolina, for a program that won the 4A state title last season.
“We’re still a work in progress this year,” Chavis said.
“Right now, we’re just scratching the surface.
There are some great kids on this team.” Travis added, “We know we’ll catch everyone’s best shot.”
Kendria, meanwhile, is building the girls’ program. She has several eighth-graders and freshmen on the roster.
“We’ll get there,” she said. “We’re building this program, and we have some very good young players.”
She seems to take delight in the way her older brothers seem to shadow each other’s life experiences — getting married around the same time, having children around the same time.
“Trust me,” Travis Holmes said to her sister. “We didn’t plan it that way.”
Kendria and Regina Holmes also are proud that the brothers hold a place in the NCAA record book — for the most career points ever scored by twins.
“That’s another thing we didn’t plan,” Chavis said, breaking into a laugh.