DeJane James directs a Capital Prep girls team that has lofty expectations.
File photo by Matt Dewkett
Tammy Millsaps believes her
Capital Prep (Hartford, Conn.) team is the best girls' basketball team in Connecticut.
The Trailblazers and Millsaps both had to adjust to one another before the team could get to that point, however.
Millsaps had only coached college basketball before she arrived at Capital Prep last season. She had been the head coach at Bloomsburg University (Pa.) and an assistant coach at three other schools.
The Trailblazers played for their first state title in their first season under Millsaps. They have the potential to win the CIAC Class S championship this season.
"I think we are the best team in the state," Millsaps said. "I think we have some of the best players from the one to the five position. The kids are versatile at every position. The kids who come off the bench — we go eight deep, which is good for high school — any of those eight can start for any team. Most don't have that."
The Trailblazers are 4-0.
Millsaps was an assistant coach at Southern Connecticut State when she accepted legal guardianship of her nephew, Kevin. She didn't believe she could be a college coach and raise him the way she wanted, so she jumped at the chance to coach Capital Prep.
Both the Trailblazers and Millsaps had to get used to each other. Millsaps was used to having access to the players more than what was possible at the high school level. The players had to get used to her style.
"The kids had to adjust to the intensity and the accountability," Millsaps said. "I think I came from strong programs, and it was instilled in me to have accountability. You're going to class every day. You're performing academically. You're performing in practice. You're performing in games.
"That was an adjustment for some kids. I was running a program similar to a college program."
The Trailblazers finished 22-4 in 2011-12 and played for the Class S title, losing to Coginchaug, 58-48. They did so despite starting many underclassmen, among them freshmen
Kiah Gillespie (forward-guard) and point guard
DeJane James.Capital Prep returned this season one year older and one year wiser.
"It's a huge difference," Millsaps said. "They have talent and a work ethic and desire to be coached. The older kids are now telling the younger kids that, ‘Coach Millsaps don't play that.' I really don't have to say a whole lot.
"Last year, it was a struggle. ‘Where were you at? Why are you late? Get on the line and run.' All those things that make you want to pull your hair out. Now they're able to teach the younger kids that."
Millsaps has made concessions of her own, too.
"Sometimes, at the college level, it's all about structure," she said. "Sometimes, (at the high school level), you just have to sit back and let them play and make mistakes and learn from it…just let them play."
The Trailblazers were ranked ninth in the preseason New Haven Register Top 10 poll, whose voters are either coaches or media. They shot up to No. 3 after knocking off then No. 1 Career of New Haven, 76-57, on Dec. 13.
Gillespie scored a game-high 29 and freshman forward
Desiree Elmore added 28 points for Prep.
Gillespie is an example of the selflessness Millsaps has preached. Gillespie can play guard and is comfortable on the perimeter, Millsaps said.
Gillespie is 6-foot-1 and one of the Trailblazers tallest players, so they need her to play inside.
"She's come a long way," Millsaps said. "She's starting to understand that what we need her to do is be the person in the paint. She's really starting to understand that this year. She's really being physical, getting the ball, snatching the rebounds and starting the break, and I think that's a credit to her learning curve."
Ned
Griffen has covered high school, college and professional sports in the
Northeast since 1992. A 2003 New England Associated
Press News Executives award winner, he may be reached at nedgriffen@gmail.com
