Sequoia Holmes Wins AU Pro Basketball Impact Award for Work with Vegas Elite Basketball Club
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball has named Sequoia Holmes the winner of the 2025 Impact Award, recognizing her exceptional civic leadership and community engagement with Vegas Elite Basketball Club.
Holmes, who serves as assistant director for the Las Vegas-based youth basketball organization, was honored for her work mentoring young female athletes in Southern Nevada. Vegas Elite Basketball Club serves youth ages 5 to 17 and is the largest organization of its kind in the state.
“I grew up playing basketball here in Las Vegas,” Holmes said. “I chose them because I work very closely with those young ladies that come from our community. I think representing Las Vegas as a basketball capital is huge for me. I have a very special place in my heart for sports here and growing that culture. It’s just special to me to be able to represent my city and be a part of what the representation of the future looks like.”
The recognition holds personal significance for Holmes.
“It means the world to me that my peers and organizations have kind of understood what my mission is, what my goal is, and they value my commitment and see that as something that should be honored,” she said.
Her approach to civic leadership stems from the influence of mentors throughout her own athletic career.
“It takes a neighborhood and a village to raise children,” Holmes said. “I was so positively impacted by all of the people in my world that I feel like being somebody like that for young athletes is important because not every person has exactly what you need, but every person in this world can provide you with exactly what’s necessary for you to be successful…Everybody has one thing that will amount to everything.”
Holmes views her work with Vegas Elite as teaching life lessons through basketball.
“We’re coaching you at basketball, but we’re teaching you life and what it’s going to be like outside of just what you do in your home,” she said. “Your journey in basketball is going to be directly translatable to your life. The accountability from me isn’t because I want to win championships or I want to win games. Accountability from me comes because I want you to be able to have a sense of accountability in your life going forward, when maybe your coach isn’t there, your parent isn’t there. You have to be able to stand on your own and understand I learned something that I can take with me throughout my entire life.”
She also shared her philosophy on civic leadership.
“You really have to learn how to serve before you can lead. Learn how to follow before you can lead,” Holmes said. “Be someone who’s not afraid to do the things that no one else wants to do, because oftentimes those are the things that are most needed. I think in this world in general, we need a lot more people that are willing to do things that aren’t pretty, don’t make us a lot of money, but you lead with your heart first.”
Holmes chose Vegas Elite as her athlete cause for her first two AU seasons in 2024 and 2025, and will continue to play for the organization in 2026.
At the end of each season, Athletes Unlimited, powered by Give Lively and the Give Lively Foundation, makes a grant equal to 100% of the athlete’s end-of-season win bonus to the nonprofit of the athlete’s choice.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
