Andre Mills starts his day before the sun rises, ready to seize every opportunity. This redshirt-freshman has been a standout for the Maryland men’s basketball team, consistently delivering double-digit and 20-point games, marking an impressive debut season.
Early on, Mills faced a slower start, but he returned to a tried-and-true routine that had previously paved the way for his success.
“It’s about getting in the gym every day,” Mills shared. “I wake up at 5:00 AM.
It’s a routine I’ve had for years. Earlier in the season, I fell out of it.
I was getting up at eight or nine, and I just felt off. I reminded myself to take that extra time to wake up in the morning, get off my phone, and focus on basketball.”
This disciplined approach has been key to his achievements with the Terrapins. While balancing the demanding life of a student-athlete, Mills has found peace by focusing on what he can control.
“I’ve got a lot of anxiety when it comes to certain things outside of basketball,” Mills admitted. “Simplifying things in my brain and reminding myself that I’m only doing things I’ve done my entire life helps remind me that I don’t need to change who I am or what I do.”
As the season progressed, Mills consistently posted double-digit performances in 11 of Maryland’s last 13 regular-season games. He set and surpassed his career-high points total five times, including a 24-point game against Iowa and a 39-point explosion at Northwestern, tying Maryland’s freshman scoring record.
“There are still habits I need to break, of course,” Mills said. “But this is who I am.
I score, I guard, I rebound. I know I can do these things at a high level, so my focus on those things is the moral of my story.”
His post-game comments mirror his on-court focus. After a win over Washington, he simply stated, "Don't think.
Just make it. I just want to make the plays we need to win."
Hailing from a competitive family, Mills was exposed to various sports, but basketball was his chosen path. Despite excelling in high school football, an injury led him to focus solely on hoops.
“I still finished the game,” Mills recalled. “But once the doctors put me in a cast, I realized I needed to focus on basketball and my goal of playing varsity.”
His journey took him from Brimmer and May High School to Texas A&M under coach Buzz Williams, and eventually to Maryland, following Williams to the Big Ten.
“I love Andre,” Williams said. “I know all his people.
His people have given me permission to coach him as coaches used to coach. The intent of my heart toward Andre is always in the right place.
My tone is not always the best, but it’s in a language he understands.”
Mills’ relentless work ethic is evident on the court, as he strives to reach his potential. His growth hasn’t gone unnoticed. Veteran teammate Elijah Saunders praised Mills’ development and leadership.
“A lot of guys, you start to see them grow in the second half of conference play,” Saunders noted. “When you get into the second half of the year, you feel older.
I’ve started to see that confidence in Andre. His leadership has risen with his game, and I’m really impressed with him.”
Off the court, Mills enjoys downtime with video games and reality TV, finding a reset from the pressures of basketball.
“It’s definitely a little reset,” Mills said. “It’s a calm little unwind from the outside world and a common reset.”
In a season marked by change, Mills embodies the spirit of progress and learning. His focus on improvement and winning is unwavering.
“I just want to keep getting better every day,” Mills said. “I only want to worry about the things that impact winning. It’s all coming together, and it’s going to lead to a lot of winning real soon.”