Schools
Trojans Boys Basketball Face Uphill Season With Determination
They hope powerhouse senior Malcolm Miller will help make the difference as they battle in a tough division.
To say that the Gaithersburg High School boys basketball team has its work cut out for them this season might not be a stretch. After all, the Trojans compete in a division with three-time defending state champion Springbrook and perennial county powerhouse Magruder.
"There's no easy games on the schedule," said Kevin Parrish, who enters his seventh year at the helm of the program.
However, the Trojans boast perhaps Montgomery County's most versatile player in 6-foot-6 senior Malcolm Miller who is no longer the county's best-kept secret.
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Miller, a three-year starter, had a remarkable summer season competing for an elite AAU team. His performance with Mid-Atlantic Select caught the attention of numerous Division I college scouts and Miller signed a national letter-of-intent with Holy Cross during the November early signing period.
As a junior, Miller had respectable numbers, averaging 9 points, 4 rebounds and three blocked shots per game. Miller has the ability to play all five positions on the court but will be used mainly in the frontcourt this season.
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"We have a lot of other guys who can really play too," said Parrish, "so if teams just try to focus on him then I think that we'll beat them in other ways."
Miller will be joined in the starting lineup by 6-foot-5 senior classmate and football standout Kris Westphall along with senior Davon Johnson.
The combination of Miller and Westphall could cause matchup problems inside the paint for opposing teams. Both student-athletes are versatile performers who can play above the rim.
"I think having those two guys on the court together is really going to be a handful for other teams," explained Parrish, "just because of the size and the athleticism and versatility."
The Trojans also expect to get contributions from twins Kyle and Gunnar Dillon, Mateen Ethridge and Ben Sandberg among others.
It's been twelve years since the Trojans last captured a state basketball title but this could be the season that Gaithersburg makes a deep run into the postseason.
"We have depth, we have size, we have guys that can shoot," said Parrish. "We have guys who do the dirty work so I think we really have a complete team."
Check back tomorrow for our preview of the Gaithersburg girls basketball season.
