Milton Academy Athletics’ Hidden Gem

By LUKE MONICH ‘21

When thinking about basketball at Milton Academy, people picture the varsity basketball teams. After all, those teams have been successful in recent years. However, there are more than just varsity level basketball teams on campus; many students play basketball at the JV and Freshman level, unfortunately falling off of the radar of most Milton students. One team in particular, Boy’s JV Basketball, has proven to be worth paying attention to. Although it is not a varsity team, the JV squad certainly play as if it is. They currently have 12 wins and only 1 loss in the ISL, and they hope to only add more wins as the winter season soon comes to a close. The JV basketball team may seem like a joke to some, but their success has come about through hard work.

Many of the players talk about how close they all are. The JV team is certainly not a selfish team, as every player knows and gets along with each other. Cam Babio ’21 says that his favorite thing about the team is the “pre-practice locker room time.” For teams, a locker room can represent many things. Sometimes, a team’s locker room vibe is not as great, leading to quiet, lifeless game preparation. In those scenarios, the team will have a much harder time winning, as without connections, it will never reach its full potential. However, the JV team has no problem with a barren locker room. Osafu Idahor ’20, or ‘Fu’ to his teammates, says that “[the team is] always having a good time.” Instead, they use the space to have fun and get hyped up for games. The team understands that a locker room is a ‘sacred’ place; the vibe in a locker room can easily determine a season.

Something else that many of the boys hinted at was the universal trust shared among them. Similar to a locker room atmosphere, trust can make or break a team. Fortunately, the JV team overflows with trust. One example of this trust is how Nicholas Choi ’20 believes that “the bench wins games.” Instead of only depending on the best five players, the team understands that they will function better if they trust each player’s ability. The JV players are also able to rely on their coach, Mr. Jordan. Carson Glew ’21 says that “[our] connection with [our] coach also helps” with winning games. Being able to relate with one’s coach is essential. When a coach and his players are distant, there is no trust; without trust, a team sport shifts to an individual sport. Therefore, because the JV team relies on its coach, it is able to come together and produce wins.

Another key to success for the JV team is their mindset. Unlike other teams that may shut down after a loss, the JV team understands that it is a JV team. The players do not feel the same pressure to win as the varsity basketball players, so they are able to enjoy the game of basketball. Although this airy feel to a season may seem negative, the JV team uses it to its advantage. The team obviously plays as best as it can and aims to see the positive aspects in every game—whether it be a win or loss. Carson Glew says that he and a few of his teammates “strummed [their] guitars like [they] were Lance Stephenson… [they] lost, but that's beyond the point.” The only thing that this team remembered was how hype the game was. Instead of dwelling on what it could have done better, the team focused on something it did well. This positive thinking allows the players to move forward, have fun playing basketball, and keep on winning.

Babio used the word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” to describe the team’s season. The craziness of this word perfectly describes how the JV team functions. The Boy’s JV Basketball team is an underestimated group of boys who come together to form one energetic and successful unit.