Philip Leavell is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Basha High School for AZPreps365.com

CHANDLER, AZ - The Basha High School football team is 3-0 after their 37-12 home win against Brophy Prep. Most eyes have been on the offense led by quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and the defense led by defensive back Jeremiah Vessel. However, special teams, led by senior kicker Trevor Miller, has also looked solid.

Trevor “Killer” Miller is starting his first season as Basha’s varsity kicker/punter. Miller rose from the JV football team to the varsity after kicker Derek Bass graduated last spring. During the first three games of the season, Miller is 16-16 on extra points and two of three on field goals.

“Trevor’s got a big leg, we just need to work on his consistency,” said Jeff "Coach Griff" Griffin, who is in his second season as Basha’s special teams' coordinator. “Sometimes he pulls his head a little bit like golf, but he’s doing a tremendous job for us.”

Miller missed for the first time this season on a 41-yard field goal try Friday night against Brophy. However, he recovered to nail a 39-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Miller has worked hard to become Basha’s starting kicker. “I have a good work ethic,” Miller said. “I like to put my mind to everything and continue with it. I don’t quit at all.”

“He works hard in the weight room, and I think his strength in his legs from the weight room has transferred over to the football field,” Griffin said. “He does whatever we ask him to do. Never a problem. He’s an endzone guy every time.”

Because of Miller’s strong leg, he is consistently able to kick the ball into the endzone during kick-offs and forces the opponent to start at their own 20-yard line.

Miller originally played as a wide receiver and as a cornerback while he lived in California. However, after he moved to Arizona and transferred to Basha High School, Miller noticed there was a lot of competition to play as a receiver or cornerback. During his freshman year, Miller switched positions.

“I tried kicking and it worked for me,” Miller said.

Miller began to work with Alejandro Zendejas, a midfielder for Liga MX club Necaxa and a coach at AZ Kicking & Training. “He works with Alex, at Alex’s kicking school, so Alex deserves a lot of the credit,” Griffin said.

Miller improved his skills and eventually, during his sophomore year, got a chance to play when the starting kicker inured his hip. Bass became the starting kicker and Miller became the JV kicker. Bass played 11 games and went 37-39 on extra points and six for nine on field goals during his senior season.

“We lost a really good kicker last year in Derek Bass," said coach Griff, "and Trevor has stepped in to fill Derek’s shoes and has done an extremely good job for us." 

Miller was able to gain experience and was able to play a whole season with the JV team.

“It was a solid season," said Miller. "There were misses here and there but that happens to everybody."

The senior kicker is aware of the consequences special teams has on a football game. “Special teams can win the game, lose the game, it’s a big deciding factor,” Miller said. “Like with the state championship last year, a game was won or lost by special teams.”

Miller is content with his performance so far, but he sees each game as a new challenge. “It’s a good start to the season," he said, "but it all comes down to each game, so you got to put it to the side and just start over again. Keep going, keep grinding.”

Basha will play its next game at home against Shadow Ridge High School next Friday.