Trumbull High 2019-20 Season Preview

The Trumbull Eagles are coming off their best season in 43 years of boys basketball, winning over 20 games in each of the last two years.  The Eagles have routinely been a title contender in the very large FCIAC conference in Connecticut. Last year, the Eagles advanced to the Connecticut State D1 Semi-finals before losing to the eventual State Champs, East Catholic. On the way, Trumbull knocked out the #1 seed, Sacred Heart of Waterbury.

The 2019-20 Eagles will be hit-hard with graduation losses. Chris Brown, Evan Gutowski and all time school scoring leader and First Team All State player, Timmond Williams have all moved on. The Eagles do return two starters, outstanding point guard Quentar Taylor and versatile combo guard Mileeq Green. Taylor is a three year starter and has been a critical piece to the Eagles success as the FCIAC regular season runners-up, two straight FCIAC tournament semi finals, and their deep run in the State Semis last year. Per Trumbull Coach, Buddy Bray, “Q is been outstanding running the uptempo style the Eagles play.  He is a strong ball handler that can break pressure, attack the paint and use solid judgement with his decisions. He can push on the break and make the long assist, and can also drop dimes in the paint after penetrating into the paint. We will be leaning on him this year to provide leadership with a young and inexperienced team.” Taylor holds the school records for single-game assists, the one-season total assists, and still with another season to go, he already holds the school’s career mark. 

While 6’8 Evan Gutowski has moved on to Post Grad play to further develop his D1 college ball potential at the Prep School powerhouse, St Andrews School (RI), Trumbull has the ability to plug that sizable gap with another 6’8 forward in Andrew Cutter. His size alone will bring rim protection, rebounds and some high percentage buckets. The Eagles have also picked up the services of the elusive and sharp-passing Cape Holden. Holden is back playing for his home town team, after a successful underclassman stint at Notre Dame-Fairfield. 

Opposing defenses will have to over-extend themselves to contest the long range sniping of sophomore Johnny McCain, or pay the 3 point penalties when they don’t. Another intriguing young face will be the 6’3 sophomore, Conner Johnston. Johnston brings enough toughness to crack the Eagles’ rotation. Observers think he will start as a glue-guy but should eventually evolve into a star along the lines of the outgoing Chris Brown.

 

So with a full complement of backcourt talent and a full sized rim-protector, the Eagles may be young in spots, but Bray will likely have them back to being a formidable factor in both the 2019-20 FCIACs and the Connecticut State tourney.