Carrington Miller is listed on the Central Maine Community College men’s basketball roster as a guard. In reality, the 6-foot-3 sophomore plays like a power forward.
“I like to get in the post and mix it up,” Miller, a Valley High School graduate, said.
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The Miller File
• Hometown: Bingham
• High school: Valley
• Major: Physical Fitness Specialist
Moving into CMCC’s starting lineup this season, Miller has been one of the Mustangs’ top players. Miller leads the team with a 16.9 points per game scoring average, seventh-best in the Yankee Small College Conference. Miller’s 8.8 rebounds per game also lead the Mustangs and is fourth-best in the conference.
“He’s the most improved player on our team,” CMCC head coach Dave Gonyea said of Miller.
The Mustangs improved to 9-5 (5-0 in conference play) Sunday after a 91-88 victory over UMaine-Machias. CMCC hosts Southern Maine Community College on Thursday.
Miller came off the bench last season, as the Mustangs won the conference title and advanced to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. With a lot of new players on the team this season, Miller’s role has expanded.
“This year, Carrington had to step up and rebound and score,” Gonyea said. “He’s embraced that.”
Against UMaine-Machias on Sunday, Miller scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds. On Dec. 2, Miller was named Yankee Small College Conference Player of the Week after scoring 49 points and grabbing 21 boards. A strength of Miller’s game is his aggressiveness, Gonyea said. Miller is not afraid to drive to the basket or fight on the low blocks with bigger players for rebounds. Gonyea cited Miller’s effort against Machias’ big men, particularly 6-7 Ivory Snead.
“(Miller) just does not back down,” Gonyea said.
Miller lifted weights in the offseason and worked on his outside shot, but the biggest improvement to his game was the confidence that comes with experience.
“I knew I could play with these guys,” Miller said.
Miller knew CMCC would be the best fit for him, academically and athletically, after watching the experience his older brother, Curtis, had playing for Gonyea. A student in CMCC’s Physical Fitness Specialist program, Miller also is considering pursuing a nursing degree.
“Curtis put in a good work for Coach Gonyea. I just saw the environment here. I wouldn’t find a better college that fits me,” Miller said.
The Mustangs are 5-2 in their last seven games, and Miller sees the team starting to come together.
“It’s hard to live up to last year’s expectations,” Miller said. “The first couple of games, we all wanted to get ours. Now we’re sharing the ball a lot better. It’s coming along nicely.”
“It takes a while to gel. It’s not about me, it’s about us. It takes a while to get that,” Gonyea said.
As the Mustangs gel, Miller will continue to be one of the key players keeping them together.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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