Jesse Holmes almost chose Chico State two years ago. He wouldn't let himself go in a different direction again. Holmes, who prepped across the street at Chico High School, signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Chico State Thursday.
 
A Division I football scholarship at the Air Force Academy proved too much to pass up for Holmes out of high school. He spent one year in Colorado Springs before returning home for personal reasons, and spent last season with the Butte College football team. He redshirted due to an injury.
 
The Air Force Academy offered him another scholarship to return, but this time he's following his heart.
 
"Deep down I had to come to terms with the fact that I've always really wanted to play college basketball," Holmes said. "I had a good connection with coach (Greg) Clink out of high school and almost signed then. This time I couldn't pass up the opportunity."
 
A 6-foot-2 guard, Holmes joins the Wildcats with four seasons of eligibility remaining.
 
"We are very excited to sign Jesse Holmes. We recruited him out of high school and couldn't be happier that he has decided to play basketball for Chico State," Clink said. "He is an excellent basketball player and an honor student and will be a great addition to our program."
 
Holmes was the Northern Section's Most Valuable Player in 2012 and a two-time First Team All-Northern Section selection. He led the Panthers to three straight Division II section titles and the 2012 Northern California regional semifinals.
 
All together, Holmes scored 1,133 points while leading the Panthers to a 75-13 record in his three varsity seasons.
 
A shooting guard as a sophomore and junior, Holmes took over the point as a senior and averaged 13.7 points per game, hitting 49 threes, while leading the team in assists.
 
He averaged 17.9 points per games and hit 44 threes as a junior and scored 8.7 points per game as a sophomore.
 
He was a Cal-Hi Sports Second Team Grid-Hoop All-State selection as a senior and a Third Team pick as a junior.
 
A wide receiver on Chico High School's football team, Holmes graduated as the section's all-time leader in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,436). He finished second in touchdown catches with 39, two shy of the record. Holmes ' yardage total puts him seventh in the state's history, according to the Cal-Hi Sports Record Book. He's also 16th in receptions and 10th in TDs. 
 
Holmes, 6-foot-9 River City High School (West Sacramento) forward Justin Briggs, and 6-foot-4 win Vinnie Safin from Rocklin High School are the first three signings from this  season's recruiting class.
 
Those three, along with redshirt freshmen Chris Lott, Joseph Lynch, Marvin Timothy, Nate Ambrosini, and Keith Datu will join forces with the team's nine returners as the defending conference champion Wildcats attempt to reach the NCAA Championship Tournament for the fifth consecutive year.