The last few weeks have been pretty special for
Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) head coach Sharman White.
After taking on arguably the nation's toughest regular season schedule, the Wolverines achieved dynasty status March 9 by winning their fourth-straight Class AAAA state title. Miller Grove beat rival Southwest DeKalb (Decatur) in dramatic fashion in the final.
Last week he was selected to coach in the Jordan Brand Classic, scheduled for April 14 in Charlotte, N.C. White will join his star pupil, 6-foot-9 senior
Tony Parker, at the event.
Sharman White wrapped up his sixth season as head coach at Miller Grove with another state title.
Photo by Lonnie Webb
Sounds like a dream sequence for any high school coach.
But the titles and accolades are taking a backseat in the White household these days as Sharman and wife Jemeka are still basking in the glow of their second child and new baby boy, Szion, born Feb. 22 – just two days before Miller Grove beat New Manchester in the first round of the state tournament.
Szion's due date was Feb. 21 and doctors said he could come early. That made for an anxious regional final game Feb. 18 as White had more on his mind than basketball.
"I gave my cell phone to the managers and we had a plan if she went into labor," White said.
After Szion arrived – at over 10 pounds and 24 inches – assistants ran practice leading up to the state tournament opener. Jemeka took the lead at home to help White balance his duties as coach and father.
"All props to my wife," White said. "She understood what time of the year it was and tried to do everything she could to keep me from getting worn down. We had some short nights as far as sleep goes and I was running on fumes a little bit, but just so excited about the birth of my new child."
The only thing missing for White and his team this season was a spot in the national rankings, where the Wolverines have been a mainstay over the past three years. Miller Grove took on seven teams that appeared in MaxPreps.com's Xcellent 25 or Academy Top 10 rankings in 2011-12, losing nine games before finishing on a 16-game win streak.
"That was the ultimate goal from the beginning," White said of winning the state title. "It was tough losing some of those because they were nail-biters. They knew we had to go home and prove ourselves and put ourselves back in position (to win a title).
"We needed to play our best basketball going in to the last part of the season and that's what they did."
The Wolverines' daunting schedule included a nationally-televised showdown with Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), as well as appearances in the City of Palms Classic, Cancer Research Classic, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions and Spalding Hoophall Classic. Despite being on the outside looking in rankings-wise, White says he wouldn't change a thing.
"With the opportunities that were put before us, I probably wouldn't do anything differently," White said. "A play here, play there, free throw here, free throw there and things would have been different. I felt confident in our team and I think if we had a chance to go back and play some of those games now, the outcome would have been different."
Under White's guidance, Miller Grove is 112-19 during its four-year hold on Georgia's Class AAAA. He's one of the most accomplished – and likeable – young coaches in the country. What's next for White and his expanding family?
"One of my goals is to be a college coach," White said. "I will do high school as long as I'm called to do high school because this is my foundation, continuing to build young men.
"At some point I do want to go into college. Hopefully sooner than later. I think I have a lot to offer a program."
