The Midland Trail boys basketball team will likely open the season under the radar, but veteran head coach Curtis Miller doesn’t think his team will be there long.
Graduation took its toll on the Patriots roster with six quality players exiting the program, leaving basically two major contributors from last year in junior Payton Bailes and senior Thad Brown.
“Payton started the year as our sixth man, but when his brother got hurt, his role changed to pretty much our second option. As a sophomore he gained a lot of experience,” Miller said. “There were games he looked like a sophomore, but for the most part he was one of our leading scorers. That should help him a lot this year.”
Bailes averaged 12 points per game last year, while Brown added eight points and eight rebounds per contest. Brown could be primed for a special year after making sacrifices for the team last year.
“Thad played center out of necessity for us, but he is not a center. He is more of a wing player with a nice shot,” Miller said. “So, he will be in more of a natural position this year. He is super smart on the basketball court. I think he will have a solid year.”
Miller is also extremely excited about a returning player that has had made a huge transformation since last year.
“My surprise player is Ben Harrison who is 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5. He was super raw last year and came off of the bench in JV last year,” Miller said. “He decided when basketball was over to get super serious about it. I don’t know if there is a day since basketball ended that he hasn’t been somewhere in a gym training. I have a kid that can dunk finally.”
Harrison will also bring a new dimension to coaching for Miller this year.
“I have been here, counting assistant coaching, for 16 years and I haven’t had a true big man,” Miller said. “We have players that were good in the post, but never a legit center. He has some solid moves and has a nice shot from 15-feet and in. Having a big inside that can score should help out our shooters.”
Senior Levi Skaggs and junior Jake Ewing are slated to join Bailes, Brown and Harrison in the starting line-up this year. Skaggs is the twin brother of softball standout Jesse Skaggs, while Ewing is coming off of a solid year on the gridiron.
“Levi played our 7 or 8 man last year, but missed the first part of the season after breaking his hand in practice. He will be a guard that can defend and he shoots well,” Miller said. “Jake is a hustler, a rebounder and solid defensive player. He is the player every team needs and likes that role. He does it well.”
Although his roster took a solid hit from graduation, Miller still believes he can go 7-8 deep in the rotation. The depth will come from a trio of sophomores in Cam Thomas, Brody Jones and Isaiah Harper.
Midland Trail opens the season on the road at Summit Christian Academy on Dec. 10.
