Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 , Loss , 74, to, 79
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at Baylor
L 74-79
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Slaven Gujic
Insider: Milstead's role, shot expand
1/26/2018 6:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
Freshman point guard alters mechanics, makes 22 FTs in a row
Grand Canyon's class of three scholarship freshmen are all contributing in regular rotation roles to a winning team.
Alessandro Lever and Roberts Blumbergs were likely candidates because they supplied size that GCU needed, but point guard Damari Milstead's chances were slimmer.
However, with added weight, shot improvement amid a mechanics overhaul and a coachable approach, Milstead is being counted on as the Lopes' backup point guard amid the throes of Western Athletic Conference play.
Milstead, the 6-foot-2 guard from Hayward, Calif., is averaging 10.3 minutes in the past four games and averaging 6.7 points in the past three. He arrived with a shooting form in need of overhaul, but his commitment to changes implemented by associate head coach Todd Lee is already tangible. Milstead has made 22 consecutive free throws in games, going without a miss since Dec. 9.
Lee helped Milstead move his shooting release forward because he had been shooting from his ear. The dedication has made for a drastic change in free throw success, but keeping his release consistent and tight in live action will be a step that usually takes an offseason amid a mechanics change.
"He is a really good free throw shooter, which we don't have," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "He's automatic, which is really remarkable because when he got here, his shot was not very good and we changed it. Credit to him. He stuck with it. He gets in the gym and he works at it and he knocks those things down. Damari is fine. He's going to be good."
When the Lopes (15-6) shot out to a 31-16 lead Tuesday, it was Milstead leading the reserve crew there with an assist to Lever and a fastbreak finish. When GCU restretched the lead in the second half, it was Milstead drawing free throws three times within 62 seconds.
"Coach always says to be ready for when an opportunity presents itself," Milstead said. "He gave me an opportunity and I just want to play hard and win.
"I feel like I'm way more comfortable on the court right now. In the beginning, it was fast. I feel like things are slowing down. I'm getting better every day. I'm getting better on defense. I'm being smarter on offense to protect the ball."
The Lopes can benefit from Milstead's ability to push tempo, drive and pressure defensively while Milstead gets to see how senior point guard Casey Benson operates daily.
"I'm learning from how poised he is," Milstead said. "He never gets rattled. His assist-to-turnover ratio is great. I watch how smart he is and try to take little things from his game and put it in my game for the future."
Milstead is thriving on the classroom and learning on the court. He takes to coaching well and is learning nuances, such as how to get defenders off his dribble, balancing his shooting base and playing off-ball defense. With the Lopes losing five seniors off this year's roster, the next era is promising with Lever, Blumbergs and Milstead having an impact now.
"It's exciting," Milstead said. "The future is bright for us. Hopefully we can keep getting better and be a staple for the program."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Alessandro Lever and Roberts Blumbergs were likely candidates because they supplied size that GCU needed, but point guard Damari Milstead's chances were slimmer.
However, with added weight, shot improvement amid a mechanics overhaul and a coachable approach, Milstead is being counted on as the Lopes' backup point guard amid the throes of Western Athletic Conference play.
Milstead, the 6-foot-2 guard from Hayward, Calif., is averaging 10.3 minutes in the past four games and averaging 6.7 points in the past three. He arrived with a shooting form in need of overhaul, but his commitment to changes implemented by associate head coach Todd Lee is already tangible. Milstead has made 22 consecutive free throws in games, going without a miss since Dec. 9.
Lee helped Milstead move his shooting release forward because he had been shooting from his ear. The dedication has made for a drastic change in free throw success, but keeping his release consistent and tight in live action will be a step that usually takes an offseason amid a mechanics change.
"He is a really good free throw shooter, which we don't have," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "He's automatic, which is really remarkable because when he got here, his shot was not very good and we changed it. Credit to him. He stuck with it. He gets in the gym and he works at it and he knocks those things down. Damari is fine. He's going to be good."
When the Lopes (15-6) shot out to a 31-16 lead Tuesday, it was Milstead leading the reserve crew there with an assist to Lever and a fastbreak finish. When GCU restretched the lead in the second half, it was Milstead drawing free throws three times within 62 seconds.
"Coach always says to be ready for when an opportunity presents itself," Milstead said. "He gave me an opportunity and I just want to play hard and win.
"I feel like I'm way more comfortable on the court right now. In the beginning, it was fast. I feel like things are slowing down. I'm getting better every day. I'm getting better on defense. I'm being smarter on offense to protect the ball."
The Lopes can benefit from Milstead's ability to push tempo, drive and pressure defensively while Milstead gets to see how senior point guard Casey Benson operates daily.
"I'm learning from how poised he is," Milstead said. "He never gets rattled. His assist-to-turnover ratio is great. I watch how smart he is and try to take little things from his game and put it in my game for the future."
Milstead is thriving on the classroom and learning on the court. He takes to coaching well and is learning nuances, such as how to get defenders off his dribble, balancing his shooting base and playing off-ball defense. With the Lopes losing five seniors off this year's roster, the next era is promising with Lever, Blumbergs and Milstead having an impact now.
"It's exciting," Milstead said. "The future is bright for us. Hopefully we can keep getting better and be a staple for the program."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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