Miller becoming a well-known prospect

Note: This article was originally published at Rivals.com.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Observers hoping to catch a glimpse of Justin Miller at the AAU Super Showcase in Orlando on Sunday likely came away disappointed – but it wasn’t his fault.

Miller, a 6-2 guard from Rockbridge Senior High School in Columbus, Mo., suffered a potential torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder on the first play of the game against an AAU team from Texas. He stole the ball and was going up for a lay-up when two opponents hit his arm.

Afterwards, Miller said he felt dizzy and might have had a concussion. He did not play the rest of the tournament.

“I think a lot of coaches wanted to see Justin play,” his father, Rich, said. “But they’ll get their chances. It’s still early.”

The class of 2011 prospect is a big-time offensive player who can really shoot the ball from three-point range. At the NIKE Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., earlier this month, Miller had a stretch where he hit four straight threes and single-handedly brought the St. Louis Eagles U-16 team back in the game.

“That happened again [yesterday],” Miller said, referring to a pool play game at the Super Showcase. “I just get into a mode when I feel like I can’t miss.”

Miller describes himself as a combo guard that can do a little of everything in the backcourt.

“Most of my game is just getting to the basket,” he said. “Then when defenders play off of me, I can start to shoot – it makes me hard to guard. Also, [when I get into the lane] I look to kick it to a post or a shooter.”

With a very solid summer performance thus far, Miller says his recruiting is going well. He is getting increasing interest from across the country.

According to Miller, all of the Missouri Valley Conference schools are involved, as are Iowa State, Iowa, Missouri and Virginia. Even assistant coach Pat Sellers of Connecticut contacted Miller after the Peach Jam.

“I want to have a coach that is close with the players,” said Miller, who has visited Creighton and attended both the Virginia Elite Camp and Missouri Team Camp. “I have to like the campus because I want to enjoy myself outside of basketball.”

Miller grew up just a few miles away from Missouri’s Columbia campus and has been attending its basketball camps for years.

He knows head coach Mike Anderson and his family well, and says assistant coach Melvin Watkins has been talking to him.

“I like the way they play because that’s how I like to play,” Miller said. “Up and down, pressing, running the floor. I also like their campus.”

With such a variety of schools interested in the rising junior, expect an interesting recruitment followed closely at all levels of college basketball.

“I want to be able to play,” Miller said. “I don’t want to go to a big school and not play. But it has always been my dream to play in a major conference.”