- Barry Ebua
Video Bonus- White catches a full court pass from Jack Forcier and lays it in for the buzzer-beater win over Malden January 19
Senior captain and guard Andrew White is the lone superstar, All Scholastic All-Star and GBL All-Star on the Mustangs. He led the Mustangs to a fast start by helping them win their first three games of the season and leading them to their first 3-0 start in about a decade. He has been on fire on the basketball court so far this season and is firing from all cylinders. White is the Mustangs’ leading scorer this season, averaging way over 20 points per game and also 7.0 per game.
He is trying to lead the Mustangs to something that they have never done in a decade, which is win a Greater Boston League Championship and qualify for the state tournament. The last time Medford won a GBL Championship was when White’s older brother David played for the Mustangs and led the team to three consecutive GBL Championships in 1997, 1998, and 1999. The Mustangs also made an appearance at the Fleetcenter (now TD Garden) for the state tourney in 1998. David White is currently an assistant coach for the Mustangs.
Andrew White is certainly making his case to become a GBL All-Star, All scholastic All-Star, and also the GBL player of the year. Fortunately, Mustang News was able to catch up with White and talk about the team’s recent success and how they can improve the season goes on.
Mustang News: What made your team get off to such a fast start in the beginning of the game against Billerica?
Andrew White: We played great defense, there was also great intensity from our bench, and there was great shot selections on the offensive side of the ball.
MN: What was your mentality heading into the Billerica game?
AW: I went into the game thinking that we already won and had a lot of confidence that my team was going to pull off this win.
MN: What are your team goals for this season?
AW: From this point on, just to get 6 more wins.
MN: What were the keys to get a win against Billerica?
AW: Pressuring the ball because their guards are not strong with the ball. Boxing out number 44, who was Billerica’s premier big man. Limiting the turnovers on the offensive side of the ball.
MN: What were some positive and negative things about the Billerica game?
AW: Number 44 was limiting because of the good defense we played on him and also being able to box him out on the boards. We came out of Billerica with a win. We had a couple of turnovers that we should have never had in the first place.
MN: What are some of the things that your team can improve on in order to become a better team?
AW: Limiting the turnovers while being pressured with the ball. Boxing out the other team on the boards. We could have better rotations on the defensive side of the ball.
MN: What was the exact game plan that your team had planned out before the Billerica game?
AW: Boxing out number 44 and contesting jumpshots with high hands on the shooters.
MN: What do you think it is going to take in order for this team to achieve and accomplish the goals that were set out before the season even started?
AW: Continuing to play hard on both sides of the ball, limiting turnovers and boxing out on the boards, playing better defense and consistently being able to keep the energy level and intensity up every single time that we step onto the court as a team.
MN: As the only captain of this team, how do you think you can be a better leader for this team?
AW: Keep bringing positive energy and directing people who need to be directed.
MN: Do you think you have what it takes in order to be a good leader for this team? Why or why not?
AW: Yes because I have been in the program for 3 years now and I understand what is expected out of me and I know the plays and the system very well now.
MN: Knowing that this is your last season playing high school basketball, what are some of the things that you are going to remember the most when it is all set and done?
AW: How the coaches brought the program from nothing to actually being a winning program. All the fun times that I had with my teammates and playing against my cousin from Malden High School.
MN: After your high school basketball career is all set and done, how do you want to be remembered when you graduate from Medford High School in June?
AW: That a young black man is trying to be successful in society and is a good and talented player.
MN: In your own words what is a good leader and what special qualities and characteristics does a person who is a good leader have to have?
AW: A leader is someone who motivates other players and is able to deal with adversity. A good leader is always confident. They are always supportive all times no matter what the situation is. A good leader always makes his teammates become better players. A good leader is always able to keep his composure and also calm down his teammates when their confidence level is too high or when they start to lose their temper. They also help pick up teammates while they are struggling.
MN: When you thinking of all the good leaders that we have had in our society, who are some of the good leaders past or present that we have had in our society that stand out to you the most? What make these people good leaders in their societies?
AW: Martin Luther King because he was able to motivate others and deal with adversity. Michael Jordan because he picked up his teammates while they were struggling and also faced adversity at the same time. Gandhi because he was able to deal with adversity and he also was able to support and motivate others.
MN: After your graduation from Medford High School, what exactly do you plan to do with the rest of your life?
AW: I am going to go to college right after high school. I also plan to play basketball at the college varsity level. While in college, I would like to major in business and minor in sports management and after college I would like to someday become a sports agent.
