Millwood's 18th State Title: A family affair on the court

Last weekend Millwood's basketball team won their 18th state 3A title. While winning such a prestigious title is special, this year’s victory was all about family.

“This is my second year; I just finished my second year of coaching,” said Dorrian Williams, Millwood's head basketball coach.

Coach Williams remembers getting the phone call letting him know he was selected for the job.

“I remember I was at home, I got the call, my wife, we kind of talked about it, I think these were my first two calls,” said Williams.

Those 2 calls were to his uncle Kendrick Jackson and his younger brother Evan Alexander.

“You don’t trust anybody more than you trust family like I’ve been through my good and bad times whether it was as a player or a person you know these two have been the cornerstone of my life,” said Williams.

Along with trust, comes a pretty impressive resume.

“You talk about 20 years of experience, won the state title, coached me growing up and we had winning ways when we were younger,” said Williams.

“Our whole program, it’s like a family atmosphere,” said Kendrick Jackson, Millwood assistant coach and Williams’ uncle.

The three have been working with some of the players on the team since elementary school, teaching more than basketball. 

“Can they lead a family, can they be a great husband, are they going to be a great pillar in the community,” said Williams.

Not surprisingly most of the seniors on the team are going to college to play basketball on academic scholarships. But it all started with family.

“When you talk about family man, it was definitely the perfect job for us, the perfect opportunity,” said Williams.

They reflect on winning the 3A state championship together.

“It just makes things a little sweeter when it’s your actual blood that you’re having the success with,” said Evan Alexander, assistant coach and Williams’ brother.

“It hit differently. This one really has a special place in my heart,” said Jackson.

The coaches say they couldn’t imagine this journey with anyone else and can’t wait to defend their title next year, together.