![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
From a Wildkat to a Javelina, Westerner and Coyote, 2018 graduate Darius Mickens is ready to make some magic. Mickens was recently drafted by Osceola Magic to the NBA G-leagues which is the developmental league for the NBA. After setting numerous records at Willis High School and going on to play at Texas A&M Kingsville, Western Texas Junior College and Cal State University San Bernardino, Mickens is now off on his next big journey.
“The draft process was a little crazy,” Mickens said. “I went to a few overseas camps this summer and had great showings but still nothing major from any NBA or G league teams. Then around September, I went to a couple workouts, one being with the RGV Vipers and then the Austin Toros. I did so well at the Austin workout that they put my name in the G league draft. It was just a matter of talking to my agent and finding out where we might end up.”
Mickens’ former coach Michael Storms is very proud that his four years of coaching Mickens has greatly impacted him and put him on the path that he’s currently following.
“I was fortunate enough to meet Darius during his eighth grade year at Brabham and then coached him for four years on the Wildkat varsity basketball team,” Storms said. “He played distinctly different roles each year, and it was a pleasure to coach him. Every player only dreams of this, and his dreams are becoming a reality.”
Mickens couldn’t have gotten to where he is now without the support of his mother. He gives her credit for all the motivation and inspiration she has shared with him over the years that has kept him going.
“My mom is a huge credit to my success,” Mickens said. “The way she instilled being myself and working hard from an early age has carried me a long way. She’s always made sure I was working hard and being the best I can at everything. That drive to be the best at everything has pushed me to do the same on my own now.”
Four years on a varsity basketball team greatly changed Mickens’s mindset and ultimately his career path. Despite starting out on a team of majority upperclassmen as a freshman, Mickens still found a way to excel.
“My freshman year, Coach Storms put me on varsity and told me to be confident about who I am, because being a great player and a good person is what got me the opportunity to play varsity at an early age,” Mickens said. “As you keep moving up levels, confidence in who you are and what you can do is very key. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will?”
All of Mickens’ hard work, dedication and determination over the past few years is what has gotten him to where he is now, practically living out the dream of many high school athletes.
“My advice to all the high school athletes is to run your own race. My story is a great example,” Mickens said. “Coming from a small town, not being known, and being counted out by others in regard to how good I am and going division 2; people wouldn’t think I had a chance. But if you really love something and want to do it at the highest level, you’ll get there eventually. It’s all about the love of the game.”
This story was originally published on The Voice of the Wildkats on November 12, 2023.