Stowers to play at Wabash

For Washington Hatchet Colton Stowers, his decision on playing college basketball might have a familiar feel – or should we say family feel to it.

Stowers officially signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Wabash College in the Hatchet House on Friday. Wabash is also a place where his former high school coach and grandfather Gene Miiller played in the 1970s and was recently inducted into the Wabash Hall of Fame. The Little Giants are a Divison III school in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and he will play for coach Kyle Brumett.

Last season Stowers was the Times Herald player of the year in both basketball and football. On the hardwood he averaged 19.1 points a game, 7.4 rebounds with four assists per game, leading WHS to the sectional finals. He ended his career with 1,132 points, 369 rebounds, 244 assists and a 41% 3-point percentage (150/369).

On the gridiron as a quarterback, Stowers has thrown 26 TDs in the last two seasons and thrown for 3,211 yards during that time.

“Wabash has always been known as a very prestigious academic school, and I’ve had a lot of connections go there. (Former Hatchet) Colton Garland in the past was a big one. So just knowing about the school for my whole life, and my grandpa going there, it’s always been known to me. Then they’ve been very successful the past few years in basketball, and the amount of alumni connections you can make at school just sets me up right for my future,” said Stowers.

“This seems extra special. I mean, he’s (coach Miiller) the one that introduced me to this college.

“I’ve definitely got to meet and get to know some of the players. I’ve gotten to see a lot of them play throughout my high school career, and then just being able to have the chance of being teammates with them, they really just made me feel at home and like I belong.”

Miiller, his grandfather and coach throughout high school, retired this spring after 50 years of coaching and 20 years at Washington, where he won three state championships.

“After 50 years, I can honestly say that Colton is my favorite player ever,” laughed Miiller.

“I didn’t want to have any kind of influence on where he went. I told him I wanted him to go where he could go and be happy but I’m happy that he chose Wabash. I think it’s a great school. I think it’s a great chance for him to go and play and I just think it’s great opportunity for him,” Miiller.

As a basketball player Miiller thinks his grandson’s role may be a little different.

“I think he’s a wing player in college and they like his ability offensively. You know to play it all three levels and that they like his size and length for a wing player.”

Miiller will be moving to Florida but still hopes to get back to see Colton play some.

“I’ll get back for some games and course, all their games are on the Internet too. They’re all streamed so that’s good. I’ll just say one of the pleasures in the 50 years, was coaching Colton the last three years. I was really enjoying it and it was just fun to be around him, watching him mature and grow both as a person and as a player,” said Miiller.

Stowers is the son of Hanna and David Stowers and wanted to thank them, the community and coach Miiller for the chance to play in Washington.

“I’ll try not to include any bias here. But it does not get better than this in Indiana and I understand doesn’t get much better anywhere,” said Stowers. “I just want to thank everyone.”