Born in Nansemond County, Virginia, Strothers' parents Calvin and Brenda separated when he was three years old.

While playing in a recreational league, Strothers was offered a spot on the team at Christopher Newport University by assistant basketball coach Roland Ross.

[1] For leading his team to a 21–4 record en route to the Dixie Conference championship,[2] he was named first-team All-American and Division III Player of the Year by Basketball Times in 1991.

Strothers played most of his career overseas and enjoyed success in the Philippines as an import for the San Miguel Beermen from 1996 to 2002.

[4] Strothers was part of the CNU Captains' run to the Final Four as an assistant to Carolyn Hunter during the 2010–11 season.

In August 2011, he was hired as head boys' varsity basketball coach at Warwick High School in Newport News, Virginia.

In 2018, after the death of coach Benjamin Moore, who was a close family friend and father-like figure, Strothers took over the basketball program at Menchville High School.