Boy's Basketball | 3/18/2026 7:41:00 PM
Charleston, SC – At the conclusion of the annual South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association (SCAAA) Spring Conference, the state's top athletic leaders gathered for a celebratory awards breakfast at the Charleston Marriott—an event dedicated to honoring excellence across South Carolina high school athletics.
Among those recognized were Oceanside Collegiate Academy's Director of Athletics, Mark Meyer, named Region 6-AAA Athletic Director of the Year, and boys' basketball head coach
Quinton Hollis, who received one of the association's most meaningful honors: the Braveheart Award.
Quinton Hollis receives the Braveheart Award
from SCAAA President Tommy Bell.
Established in 2022, the Braveheart Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary courage and resilience while facing profound personal adversity. It is a distinction rooted not in wins or titles, but in strength of character—something Coach Hollis has exemplified in every sense.
Hollis' journey over the past year has been marked by unimaginable challenges. Diagnosed with cancer on December 15, 2024, during a routine visit for a back injury, he was already supporting his daughter Braylen, who had been battling cancer for two years. Just weeks after his own diagnosis, Hollis endured the devastating loss of his 17-year-old daughter to leukemia—the same day he began his first round of treatment.
Yet even in the face of grief and ongoing medical battles, Hollis remained steadfast in his commitment to his team.
Despite the physical toll, he missed just three games all season. While his assistant coaches led practices, Hollis stayed deeply involved—studying film, developing game plans, and showing up on game days, often pushing through immense pain.
"The truth is those games gave me the strength to keep going," Hollis said. "There were days when I couldn't walk or even sit up in bed, but on game day, I found a way to get up and move."
His presence—and perseverance—helped guide the Landsharks to a remarkable 23-2 record, including a 19-game winning streak following his diagnosis. Their season ended in the state quarterfinals against eventual AAA champion Keenan, but the wins and losses became secondary to the example their coach set.
Hollis credits his support system—his coaching staff, school administration, and the Oceanside community—for helping him endure. Weekly envelopes filled with cards and messages from students and faculty became a source of encouragement he came to rely on.
"I looked forward to those cards every week," he shared. "When I went down, everyone else stepped up."
His battle extended beyond the court and into the hospital, where he faced one of his toughest tests following a stem cell transplant. Determined not to remain sidelined, Hollis pushed himself daily to recover.
"I saw someone my age who had been in the hospital for three months, and I decided that wasn't going to be me," he said. "I just focused on doing whatever I needed to do to get better."
Through it all, Hollis has drawn strength from his family—especially his daughter Brooke, whose courage during their time of loss left a lasting impression. His wife, Cheryl, who is Vice-Chair of the Board of the Berkeley Charter Education Association, has also been a source of strength.
"Some people are stronger than you know," he said. "I still draw a lot of strength from her."
Despite everything, Hollis remains grounded in purpose. He doesn't view himself as extraordinary—just committed.
"I don't look at my situation as being brave," he said. "I signed up to be here for these kids. Even when doctors told me to stay home, I couldn't just sit there. I had to get back to doing what I love—and that helped heal me."
For Hollis, that love is basketball—a lifelong passion that continues to fuel him through even the darkest moments.
The Braveheart Award is a reflection of that spirit. It is not just a recognition of what Hollis has endured, but how he has endured it—with humility, strength, and an unwavering dedication to others.
In every sense, Coach
Quinton Hollis represents the very heart of the award bearing that name.
Recipients of the SCAAA Travis Perry Braveheart Award
2022 - Mike Beasley (Barnwell County), Heather Corley (Beaufort)
2023 - Kenny Lipsey (Williston), Jerry Linn
2024 - Jacob Smith, Joe Monmonier (Hilton Head), Kathy Knight
2025 - Megan Assey (Spring Valley), Louis Compton (Laurens), Abby Cook (Blue Ridge)
2026 - Ben Hampton (Socastee), Todd Prochaska (J.L. Mann), Hal McManus (Broome),
Quinton Hollis (Oceanside Collegiate), Gordon Stallard (Brashier)
About Oceanside Collegiate Academy: Oceanside Collegiate Academy (OCA), located in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while earning up to two years of college credit. OCA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10 grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades
Learn more about OCA by visiting our website at OceansideCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and X. For video content, visit our YouTube channel.
