‘THIS IS MY HOME’
Arizona transfer Trilli follows in father’s footsteps, becoming a star at Munster
Seven months later, Brandon Trilli has settled in.
The 6-foot-5 junior forward moved from Phoenix to Munster over the summer, a 25-hour drive covering more than 1,700 miles, according to Google Maps.
“Every now and then I’ll think about it because I still have friends out there, and I’m still keeping in touch with them,” he said. “But it does feel like I live here now, that this is my home.”
Basketball has been a constant in Trilli’s life. He looked as comfortable as ever Thursday night, leading Munster with 18 points and five assists during a 75-30 rout of Northwest Crossroads Conference rival Highland at home.
Trilli was already acquainted with the area. His father, Mike, is a 1989 Munster graduate and scored more than 1,000 points during his high school career. With extended family still in Northwest Indiana, the Trilli family made several trips while Brandon was growing up.
“We came here all the time, and it was always a consideration,” he said. “It wasn’t like coming into unfamiliar territory.”
Trilli moved into his new home on June 1 and, three days later, joined his new teammates at Munster for their first practice together.
Munster coach Mike Hackett, who recorded his 400th career victory on Thursday, didn’t need long to understand what he had in Trilli.
“The very first time he showed up in our gym and practiced with us, we could see the special talent that he is,” Hackett said.
Trilli said meshing with his teammates was an easy process, and they’ve also helped him get acclimated to the school.
“I lived in Arizona for 16 years before picking up everything and moving here,” he said. “My teammates here have really helped me, though. I feel way more comfortable because of these guys, and I’m grateful for it.”
Trilli, who averages team highs of 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, hasn’t had any issues on the court. Offseason conversations with Hackett meant Trilli knew what he’d be expected to contribute, and those summer sessions with his new teammates proved to be vital.
“(Hackett) told me what my role was going to be so I could adapt to it,” Trilli said. “And we had a lot of time to practice over the summer. So once the season came, I was ready.”
Trilli has already noticed how different the game is played in the Midwest.
“Indiana has a lot more team-oriented basketball,” he said. “The West Coast style is more about one-on-ones. Out here, everyone wins as a team.”
There is one adjustment left for Trilli, one part of life in this new environment where neither his teammates nor his coaches can offer much assistance.
“I’m still not used to the weather,” he said.