HOOPS PREVIEW: Milton reloads for another championship run after near miss

Milton enters this season looking for redemption after last season’s crushing defeat in the state finals to Norcross. The Eagles began last season ranked second in the nation and the loss to Norcross was a shock because of Milton’s talent and depth. They were loaded with four senior Division-1 prospects: PG Shannon Scott (Ohio State), SG Daijon Parker (Vanderbilt), G Jordan Loyd (Furman), and PF Julian Royal (Georgia Tech).

Despite the loss of four key players to the collegiate ranks, Milton comes into the season ranked No. 27 nationally in the ESPN Fab 50. Milton appears to be reloading rather than rebuilding this season with F Evan Nolte (committed to Virginia), SF Shaquille Johnson (committed to Auburn), and transfer PG Charles Mann (committed to Georgia). The starting squad is rounded out by transfers PF Tevin Glass and G A.J. Bush.With four new starters, three of which are transfers, head coach David Boyd will have to find a way to bring this team together as a cohesive unit and try to build chemistry between the players quickly.

One of the keys for Boyd this year is to not allow the national pressure to get to his team. He said that he felt like the pressure really affected the team last year, and this year the pressure has been lessened, which he hopes can allow the team to play looser and to their full potential.

The Eagles will find out where they stand among the elite basketball programs in not only the state but the nation when they take on Miller Grove, second in the Fab 50, on November 10 at Milton High School. Coach Boyd is excited for the matchup and will be looking to see how his team stacks up against one of the best teams in the country. This scrimmage will be a good benchmark for where Milton is at as a team to start the season. As the season progresses and these players get more comfortable with each other the team’s talent level will reach its full potential, and Milton will once again be a contender for a state championship.