Southwest Orange Observer: Sports Spotlight — Darrell Armstrong

A senior on the Windermere High boys basketball team, Darrell Armstrong has been a big part of the Wolverines’ success. After helping his team reach a Final Four season last year, Armstrong is hoping to once again make it deep into the playoffs for his final year.

How did you first get into basketball?

My dad is Darrell Armstrong — who played for the Magic — so I grew up around basketball. I just wanted to follow in his footsteps and it’s just for the love of the game. Just growing up around it made me appreciate it even more.

What is it like to have a parent who played professional basketball?

It seems like it would be out of hand and over the top, but it’s just a normal life — he’s more of an underdog, so basically he’s undercover. I wasn’t in Florida for my first six years in school, so nobody really asked me, then when I got here the hype kind of died down and it settled in and I was just a regular student.

What has been your favorite thing about playing at Windermere?

It’s the coaches — they just care so much about us. And then the countless hours they put into us for us to get better not only as players, but as men, too — it’s an on and off the court thing.

What is your favorite part about the positions you play?

I can put myself into the position to really attack or commit for others, and I can also get the ball and catch and shoot. 

What has been the biggest highlight during your time at Windermere?

As a team it was last year when we went to the Final Four, and then as a player a game that sticks out to me is East River last year — I went 5-for-5, made three threes in a row. This year we beat Jones, and I had 17 points.

Has it been easy or tough to play for a program as young as Windermere’s?

Even though we are a new program, it’s not like we have new coaches who haven’t been around the game — they came from Apopka, who have been really successful, and they just brought that culture over here and made us into that and it turned out well.

Coming into the season, did you have any goals for yourself or your team?

For the team I just wanted to put ourselves in the best spot possible for districts, and then I wanted to take it step by step — win districts, then go on to regionals and then win states. For me I just really wanted to be a factor, not only with the ball but without the ball — off-ball screens and encouraging my teammates.

What are some of the best words of advice you’ve received?

On the back of our practice jersey is “I Owe My Brother My Best,” because if everybody gives their best it goes up from there, because then we’re just going to get better and better and the sky is the limit. If I give my best, I know for sure my brother better give his best, too, and that’s what we have been living by since Day One.