INDIANAPOLIS — UNC freshman Jonathan Holmes found himself in unusual circumstances on Friday — surrounded by reporters.

A few of them were there to wish Holmes, who turned 20 yesterday, a happy birthday. The rest were there because Holmes was making a triumphant return to his home state.

Holmes doesn’t usually attract people with tape recorders, because he’s made no sudden impact in his first year as a Tar Heel. But then again, he wasn’t supposed to. The 6-0, 175-pounder knew when he signed with the Tar Heels that this year he’d be serving an apprenticeship to four-year starter Ed Cota.

Holmes has played in 24 games. He’s scored seven points — one pretty good minute’s worth of production from fellow freshman Joseph Forte — and dished out 17 assists. His most recent action was in UNC’s ACC Tournament loss to Wake Forest.

Holmes figured when he inked that he’d also play behind Ronald Curry and another senior, Terrence Newby. But Curry got hurt and Newby has been, well ... Newby. So Holmes has inched up a bit in the Tar Heel pecking order.

“I knew it would be tough to play this season,” says Holmes. “Ed’s one of the best ever. He’s playing 40 minutes in the NCAAs and he should. And every one else who is here was the best thing in their high school.”

At least, Holmes gets to practice against Cota, which has helped him improve. And to the surprise of perhaps everyone but Holmes and coach Bill Guthridge, Holmes looked like he had a clue on January 22, the one game when Cota was out of action. Holmes made two of three shots and dished out six assists against Florida State. He was good enough that the Smith Center crowd chanted his name whenever Newby was in the game instead of him. Of course, Newby usually has that effect on Tar Heel fans.

Holmes grew up wanting to be the next Bobby Hurley, so there’s a bit of irony in the fact that he landed with Duke’s biggest rivals. Holmes calls his opportunity to play a minute at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium this year “a blessing” — which is not exactly how most Tar Heels refer to their visits to Durham.

Duke, of course, showed no interest in Holmes with Jason Williams in the fold. Indiana’s Bob Knight didn’t lose any sleep over Holmes’ college destination either, even though Holmes played for Bloomington South High, within chair-throwing distance of the Hoosier campus. Few big-time programs were interested in Holmes. After all, he has that McDonald’s look. And we’re not talking about the look of a McDonald’s All-American. We’re talking about the look of a kid who fills bags with fries at the drive-thru.

But Tar Heel fans might be surprised at the kind of career that Holmes put together in the state that is the mecca of high school basketball. North Carolina is Indiana’s equal when it comes to college hoops interest. But there’s nothing like prep hoops in Indiana. Some Indiana high school gyms hold 10,000 people. Fifteen of the 17 biggest high school facilities in the country are in Indiana.

“I talk up Indiana all the time,” says Holmes, whose girlfriend did do to IU. “I tell my teammates how great it is until they’re tired of hearing about it”

Holmes has some great stories.

Last March, his team was one game away from the Indiana state championship game which was to be played in the RCA Dome, the site of UNC’s semifinal matchup tonight with Florida. Holmes, whose father was his coach, had his team ahead in the closing moments. “We were sitting there during the timeouts thinking about cutting down the nets,” says Holmes.

But victory was snatched away when Holmes’ good friend, Jason Gardner, now a freshman sensation at Arizona, tied the game with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Holmes’ team then lost in the overtime. Those memorable events came flooding back yesterday when Holmes walked on the RCA Dome floor in uniform — one year after being denied a chance to play there.

“It took a long time to get over losing that game,” says Holmes. “It hurt my dad more than me, because he wanted me to get to play in that championship game so badly. And I hurt for him. After a time, though, I realized that if we had to lose, I’m glad it was a great player like Jason who beat us.”

Gardner also beat out runner-up Holmes for Indiana’s Mr. Basketball Award last season. Holmes averaged 19.5 ppg as a senior and made the all-state first team for the second time. He set school career records for assists and points in his four years and also found time to be class valedictorian.

And now, Holmes has returned to the scene of his glory days. He could use 1,000 tickets tonight to satisfy the requests of all his friends and fans, but had to settle for his allotted six.

“Let’s see,” he says. “Dad, Mom, Sis, one uncle and both grandfathers.”

Of course, the family may not see Holmes do anything but warm up and sit, unless things get desperate for the Tar Heels in the backcourt.

And the reality is that Holmes may never play much during his stay in Chapel Hill. Curry could be back next season and the Heels have recruited two prep guards, including point guard Adam Boone, who comes much more highly touted than Holmes.

“I think I’ll get an opportunity next year,” Holmes says. “I know I’ve got to get stronger, but my goal is to become a starter before I leave here.”

Even if that never happens, Holmes wouldn’t trade places with anyone.