Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

Identical twins and former VMI hoops standouts Chavis (right) and Travis (back left) Holmes speak to basketball campers on Thursday.

Damon Williams has been affiliated with the Twin Hoops Cord Basketball Camp for decades -- first as a budding player, later as a bona fide local high school and collegiate star, and for the past 14 summers, along with his twin brother Ramon, he has overseen the operation.

Many local names that have gone on to shine at the high school, collegiate and even professional level are counted among the camp's alumni -- including George Lynch, Curtis Blair, Curtis Staples and J.J. Redick.

This year, Damon Williams had a novel idea. Make that two. He brought in identical twins and recent VMI graduates Chavis and Travis Holmes to speak to the campers at the Lucy Addison Middle School gymnasium. Considering that the Holmes boys established the NCAA Division I career scoring record for twins this past January -- breaking the mark that had previously belonged to the Williamses -- it was not lost among the campers that they were mingling with basketball celebrities.

The 85 adolescents on hand Thursday -- ranging from grades 2-7 -- were treated to an inspiring pre-lunch message by the Holmes twins, who currently reside in Charlotte, N.C.

"Stay focused," Travis told the group. "Just keep working. When Chavis and I went out for our high school freshman team, we got cut. We cried and went through some tough times at home. We were told that we weren't big enough, we weren't fast enough, that we couldn't shoot. But we wouldn't let that get us down."

"Keep your head on straight," Chavis chimed in. "People will test your will and your strength -- in basketball and as a person."

After about 15 minutes of remarks, the twins entertained questions from the campers -- which ran the gamut. "Which one of you can jump higher?" [Travis, according to Chavis.] "Have you ever won a trophy?" [About 200, Travis estimated.] "Have you ever played soccer?" ["We never did," Travis said, "and I regret it, because it helps you with your foot speed. If we had it to do over again, I think we would have played soccer."]

Upon request, Travis dunked a basketball. "That's without stretching or warming up," Chavis pointed out. The impromptu performance was greeted with applause and whistles.

Damon Williams, who was flying solo as camp director this year because his twin, Ramon, has recently been hired as an assistant coach at Ohio University and was unable to leave his new position, detailed for the group some of the Holmeses' background.

He pointed out that VMI was the only Division I school that showed interest in signing the Holmes twins as a package deal. Duggar Baucom, who had been hired by the school as head coach prior to the 2005-06 season, saw their promise and went with his gut. Chavis and Travis were his first two recruits. (Baucom has said that when he was showing them the school, he mentioned in passing that the Williams twins had starred at VMI nearly 20 years before, but he never imagined that the Holmes twins would one day break their scoring mark.)

Both Chavis and Travis said that VMI had been an excellent choice for them. They appreciated the discipline as well as the physical conditioning required of athletes who additionally were expected to meet all military obligations. The Keydets' 24-8 record this past season, the school's second-best record in the past 33 years, followed a composite 35-54 mark their first three years at the school. Overcoming odds has been standard procedure their entire lives.

The next step for Chavis and Travis is to play professionally and their agent, New York City's Sam Porter, has told them Israel is a possibility.

"We were told Sam would work hard for us," Chavis said. "Since we're coming out of VMI, that's not like Pittsburgh or anything, and it's important to have an agent that will work."

No one in the Addison gym Thursday afternoon was about to tell them to forget their next dream.