By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

CLINTON — One of the most decorated and celebrated basketball players in the history of Pascagoula High School is wrapping up his the prep portion of his successful career this weekend.
Pascagoula senior standout Dorian McMillian.is a member of his home state squad in Saturday’s prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Basketball Classic. The games will take place at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College
Players reported to campus on Thursday to begin practice. The girl’s game is set to tip off at Noon while the boy’s game, featuring McMillan, will follow around 2 p.m. The Alabama girls lead the all-time series 19-14 while the Alabama boys are up 18-15 all-time. Home-standing Alabama swept both games last year at The Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala., on the campus of the University of South Alabama.

The sensational six-foot-3 sharpshooter McMillian, an athletic shooting guard, was selected to the prestigious “Dandy Dozen” squad as named by The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson newspaper in the preseason. He then went on to excel on the hardwood his senior season for the Panthers as he was named Most Valuable Player in Region 4-6A while leading head coach Lorenzo’s Wright crew to one of the most successful seasons in program history finishing at 29-2 overall.
McMillian led the Panthers in scoring this season at around 20 points per game, and he helped guide the Panthers to a school-record 29-game win streak at one point.
He was then named Class 6A “Mr. Basketball” in the state of Mississippi just before the state playoffs started.

“Dorian is an example of what I would like a basketball player to be,” Pascagoula seventh-year head coach Lorenzo Wright said. “He is dedicated both on and off the court. He puts in extra time in the gym to perfect his craft all while working a job. He’s a student that I’ve never had to worry about having grade issues, he gives 100% on and off the floor.”
McMillian has been making his mark on the Panther program for longer than just the past two seasons when he was continually at the forefront of a balanced Panther offensive attack.
“He is a four-year starter and was one of the most decorated players ever to come through Pascagoula,” Wright added.
After an outstanding regular season and region tournament that helped him earn that MVP honor, McMillian made his presence felt immediately as the Class 6A South State playoffs started in a dominating 73-46 win over visiting West Jones.
He drained a trio of 3-pointers in the opening frame and tallied 14 points total as Pascagoula jumped out to a quick 27-12 lead with McMillian outscoring the Mustangs by himself to get things started in the first period. He went on to pour in a game-high 31 pints to pace Pascagoula to the important win after the Panthers had been upset on their homecourt in their opening playoff game the past two seasons.

McMillian poured in a season-high 33 points in January in a home win over Williamson High of Mobile, Ala., in his last appearance in the annual Panthers Raising Canes Classic.
It didn’t take long for Wright to notice how special of a player McMillian could be several years back.
“His eighth grade year I thought he would be special, and in hiis ninth grade year we had a hole to fill at that position and he was a great fit,” Wright continued. “His sophomore he hit a slump, but last year in his junior year playing Gulfport for the first time he broke out. That’s when I knew he turned the corner, all his hard work and dedication was starting to pay off.”
In addition to his 33-point outburst against Williamson, McMillian tallied a game-high 26 points in the regular season finale a 78-41 win in the only meeting of the year with arch-rival Moss Point. He also was named the MVP at the inaugural Madison County Invitational Christmas Tournament after he guided the Panthers to three straight wins in three days in the event including 67-65 over Canton in the title tilt.

In addition to McMillian being in the game, Wright will serve as an assistant on the Mississippi Boys Team as well this year. Then, next year, he’ll be the head coach of the Magnolia State squad in the 35th anniversary of the event.
“It is a blessing to represent the great state of Mississippi and to be a part of a prestigious event,” Wright, who guided his Panthers to a school record 29 consecutive wins this season, said. “It is a two-year commitment, this year I will be the assistant and next year I will be the head coach. We are looking forward to bringing the wins back to Mississippi and showing Alabama that we are the best.”