Trevor Hill takes Alta boys basketball to new heights with strong all-around play

SANDY, Utah – No one knows all the little things that go into being an effective point guard better than Trevor Hill.

For the Alta (Sandy) senior, it isn't simply about taking charge when the ball is tipped. Hill also takes it upon himself to be a leader off the court. That means spending the offseason bonding with teammates and building strong individual friendships with each one of them so that team chemistry will be naturally strong when they take the court.

Bonding with his teammates beyond basketball is something the 6-foot-3, 195-pound point guard feels has had as much impact on his success this season as any extra shooting or conditioning.

"They have the same tendencies off the court," Hill said. "I can read them better on the court. To help them out, I know if I can yell at them or if I need to cheer them up."

It has helped Hill stamp himself as a consistent force on both ends of the court in his third season starting for the Hawks. He is averaging 11.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Hill ranks in the top five in Class 5A in both assists and steals.

Hill is part of a core group that has extensive varsity experience. Landon Albrecht, Alta's no. 2 scorer and rebounder, is also a three-year starter. Zach Rollins – the Hawks' leading scorer with 15.3 points per game – is a two-year starter. That experience has helped propel the Hawks to a 19-2 record with two regular season games remaining.

One reason all three players have made such huge contributions to the program is their willingness to focus a bulk of their energy on playing strong defense.

"These kids grew up in a culture of playing defense," Alta coach Jim Barker said. "They know if you don't step on the court and play defense, you're not going to step on the court here at Alta. That's the one thing we try to have trickle down to our younger kids. As much as scoring is fun, if you can't stop anybody, you're not going to win."

Hill is definitely a leader in this aspect of the game. His all-around play not only makes him tough to contain on offense, but it makes dealing with him on defense an even bigger chore.

Hill feels like he is an even better defender now than in past seasons. Following his junior season, he put in extra time conditioning and lifting to boost his strength. Getting a little bit tougher physically also helped mentally. Once opponents started trying to make plays at the rim on Hill, he noticed a difference from how those same plays turned out as a junior.

He got more stops. On the other end, those same players struggled to stop him.

"Last year, I was getting bumped around and couldn't finish," Hill said. "This year, I'm completing and-ones – so it's helped a lot. Defensively is where I've seen the biggest improvement. I can stop guys from getting into the lane that, last year could have beat me."

Such an evolution is not surprising for Barker. Defense has always been a strength for Hill and he expected his senior season to be a showcase of his best work in that aspect of the game.

"He's always been a defender," Barker said. "I've played him since his freshman year because he could guard people. With his length and athleticism and defense, he really can step on just about any floor and guard the other team's best player."

Hill relishes in being at the controls at crunch time. He understands every nuance of Alta's offensive and defensive schemes, and it has made him mentally strong in pressure packed moments.

There isn't a teammate who doesn't know where to turn when the game is on the line. They all know that Hill can find a way to make the right play at the right time.

"They know they can come to me in a pressure situation and I'll help them out and do whatever I need to do get us the best result," Hill said.

His ability to deliver on the court is one reason why Alta is a team no one else is looking forward to facing in the Class 5A playoffs next month.

John Coon covers high school sports for MaxPreps. You can email him at john_coon@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports