Wirt's McMillan faces uncertain future

GARY – What the future holds for Jarvis McMillan is anyone's guess, including his own.

He might still be living in Gary next year. He might follow his mom to Minnesota. Only this much is certain: With his school set to close this spring, the Wirt sophomore will be somewhere else next fall.

McMillan doesn't know anyone in Minnesota. He knows people at Lew Wallace, which is where he plans to transfer if his coach, Leroy Nelson, can land as an assistant on Charles Jones' staff.

"But people that I know there, they aren't into things that I like to do," McMillan said. "I kind of like to stay to myself. That way I can stay out of trouble."

And so, the soft-spoken kid with blazing speed and an uncertain future keeps his thoughts rooted in the present -- "I plan to take state this year," he said -- but that doesn't mean he isn't motivated by past missteps.

McMillan's freshman track season was cut short by academic ineligibility. A season that started with such potential ended before May.

"If he would have run the whole year, he would have probably made it downstate," Nelson said. "In the 200 (meters), he probably would have placed in the top five."

But McMillan didn't make it to state. He didn't even make it to sectionals.

"I hated seeing people run events that I run, and win, and knowing that I could beat that person," he said.

McMillan was racing high-schoolers -- and beating them -- when he was still in middle school. That's when he first realized his potential as a sprinter.

Potential that is still untapped. After all, McMillan didn't begin running track until eighth grade. He didn't start consistently lifting weights until last year, when he saved enough money to buy a weight bench he promptly set it up in his bedroom.

"It's just the right size for my room," he said.

His technique, like his strength, is still being developed. Getting good starts out of the blocks was his biggest concern last year.

"I always had to play catch-up," he said.

That problem resurfaced last month in the 55 meters at the indoor championships at Purdue.

"But I actually came back from last to third," he said.

McMillan's pure potential was on full display last summer, when he took third in the 200 at the national AAU meet in Detroit. The 200 is his best race, but Nelson thinks he also has a shot at making it to state in the 100.

"If he stays healthy all year," Nelson said, "he most definitely can."

At the beginning of the week, McMillan had the best times in the area this season in the 100, 200 and 400 -- and he's still somewhat raw.

"He hasn't reached his peak yet," Nelson said. "He's basically running right now off of talent. He's still got to mature. He's only a sophomore."

Who knows what school McMillan will attend as a junior. Or what state he'll be living in, for that matter.

For now, all he knows is he doesn't want to look too far ahead. Not when the present looks so promising.

Contact David Robb at 648-3122, drobb@post-trib.com or visit his blog at blogs.post-trib.com/robb.