State of Indiana lures two of Wesley Chapel's Mills

WESLEY CHAPEL -- Zach Mills is moving to the junior-college level, and the point guard for two-time state semifinalist Wesley Chapel gets to be closer to dad.

Mills will play for Ancilla College in Donaldson, Ind. His father and former Wildcats coach, Kent Mills, is already in Indiana.

The elder Mills took a promotion and announced he would resign at the end of the season after twice leading the four-year program to the state tournament. He left for Indianapolis on Sunday, and the family will join him after the school year.

Zach Mills was looking for a place to play up north before his father's announcement. He will receive a financial aid package and sign April 8.

"He had some very strong interest to come up here," Kent Mills said. "It was in the works prior to me ever accepting the job, and it was just confirmed last week."

The former coach was impressed with Ancilla's coach, Daimon Beathea, a former Michigan State standout who played on three NCAA Tournament teams. Ancilla plays in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.

At Wesley Chapel, the 5-foot-11 senior guard led the team with 7.3 assists and 5.2 steals. He averaged 12.7 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting a team-best 78.9 percent from the free-throw line. Beathea is looking for a point guard and a floor leader for the Chargers, and Mills said his son can fill those needs.

"He's looking for a point guard who knows how to lead and who wants to win," Mills said. "He told me that's what he'd like to find in Zach Mills."

The former coach is looking to place two more seniors: center David Simpson, projected to be a small forward at the next level, and shooting guard Eric Sorensen. Ancilla may be looking at Simpson.

Three other standouts from the team, Greg Harrison, Tyrone Tomlin and Chris Roberts, signed to play football for Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minn.

"I'm very, very happy between Zach and the others moving on," Kent Mills said.

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