Layton’s KJ Miller and Mekhi Martin have the Lancers blazing through opponents

by James Tate

The Layton Lancers are ranked number one in the Deseret News boys 6A classification, and seniors KJ Miller and Mekhi Martin are leading the way. The Lancers are ranked number two in the Max Preps RPI rankings for 6A, which will determine playoff seeding for the championship tournament.

The Lancers ended last season with a second-round overtime playoff loss to the Westlake Thunder 73-70 at home. That ending did not sit well with the Lancer team, especially for Miller. He played a good game, scoring 17 points with five made three-pointers. Martin also scored 12 points and dished out three assists in the contest.

“After the game, it made me realize how important the little things were and that no matter how good you are, losing can always happen,” said Miller. “I remembered the feeling of the loss and decided to use that to fuel my determination to win.”

Winning has been on point for the Lancers this season, with an overall record of 20-1 and 8-0 in Region 1.

Fire and ice

Miller is a fierce competitor and shows his enthusiasm on the court, which can fuel him, his team, and the Lancer home crowd. Martin has a way of quietly putting up points in a hurry and has a will to win that burns inside. Both players are excellent shooters who pressure opponents to keep pace. Lancer Head Coach Kelby Miller has coached KJ and Mekhi since they were in grade school and knows how to get the best out of them.

“KJ and Mekhi could not be any more different in how they play and act, but that makes them work,” coach Miller said. “KJ wears his emotions on his sleeve, while Mekhi is much more reserved. Both KJ and Mekhi have evolved their games through the years. At their cores, KJ is the classic catch-and-shoot, three-and-D player, while Mekhi creates for himself and others off the dribble, but both have shown to be great all-around players. Ultimately, both want to win, with a region and state championship as the goal.”

1,000 career points

Returning as one of the state’s top players, Miller is on the verge of making his mark among the all-time greats at Layton. Already holding the career three-point shooting record, Miller will eclipse scoring 1,000 points this season. Knowing how close he is to this outstanding achievement, Miller knows he has a great chance to accomplish this and the team’s goals for this season.

“My individual goal was to reach my 1,000 career points this season, and our overall team goal was to win a region and state championship,” Miller said. “My most memorable moment was when I was named an all-state player and led the state in 6A for three-pointers made.”

Miller and Martin can both have a magical game when shots are falling for them, and they understand how to play together and use the one who has it rolling to their advantage. Miller scored 29 points against the Skyline Eagles earlier this season, and Martin poured in his season-high 32 points against the Viewmont Vikings.

“Me and Mekhi have been playing together since I can remember; we have always been the one-two punch that not many people like to play against,” Miller said. “When one of us has it going, the other is always looking to create for the other. We are always trying to find the hot hand.”

Miller’s future is bright, and after being a player on the varsity team for four years, things will be different when this season ends. Having committed to playing college at California State University San Marcos, Miller will be an excellent player for the Cougars. Martin has not made a decision on his college choice but has multiple schools showing interest.

Martin has elevated his game as a scorer and continues to be one of the best passers in the state. Being able to take over a game as a scorer and set up teammates is a special skill that Martin has mastered. Martin is the all-time leader in assists at Layton and is the one that gets his team in the right positions on the court.

Martin’s path to 1,000 career points has been remarkable in that he is the all-time leader in assists for the Lancers in his career and able to score when he needs to. Both players have left their mark as two of the best players in the state this season.

Championship goals

The Lancer’s last region title was during the 2016-2017 season. Bringing a region title and state championship to Layton is well within the reach of this year’s team.

Miller is a leader on this year’s team as the Lancers replaced three starters and welcomed senior forward David Katoa back. Miller has fit in well and helped juniors Sam Romer and Jonah Fullmer significantly contribute to the team’s success thus far.

“They were a huge part of our team, but all the guys that have come up, even with the little varsity experience, have been great,” Miller said. “Dave coming back is a huge thing for us because he is an amazing player. He also played with Mekhi and I growing up.”

Keeping focus each game and not letting the outside noise take away from the team has been a rallying point of emphasis for the Lancers this season. Every player brings their own set of talents, understands their role, and believes they can play at this level.

“We just had to tell the team to not worry about what other people are saying about us, and if we focus on us, then we will keep winning,” Miller said. “Everyone on the team will be a fantastic player once they get older, and they all work so hard and have proven that they can keep up with even the best of us.”