Adam Miller "100 percent locked in" after signing NLI to Illinois
After committing to the Fighting Illini in November, fiv-star shooting guard Adam Miller signed with Illinois on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4 guard had suitors from across the country, but chose to stay home and play for Brad Underwood and company.
There had been some social media speculation that Miller was going to entertain other offers or possibly even look into the G League. Miller has ended that speculation.
“Illini Nation. I’m a Fighting Illini. Been one my whole life and now I’m official.”
“Like I said, I was locked in 100%,” Miller said. “There were a lot people that said outside factors would weigh into my decision, but I was 100% locked in.”
Miller is currently ranked as the #10 shooting guard and the #30 player in the country according to Rivals.com brings some much needed outside shooting to an Illinois team that finished near the bottom of the league in 3-point shooting.
Miller fits as not just a shooter, but a complete scorer from all three levels, which will be needed with the expected departure of star guard Ayo Dosunmu. He was impressed by what he saw from the Illini this past season.
“They had a lot of pieces,” Miller said. “They had Kofi down in the paint. Kofi was a great big man, he played a lot of defense and blocked a lot of shots and protected the paint. Ayo was a closer this year. Ayo did what he had to do. A lot of people said I wouldn’t be going there with Ayo coming back, but that’s not true. Me and Ayo played in high school together, so I would be glad to play college basketball with him too. Trent is a knockdown shooter, plays defense and gets the team hyped. My big brother Da’Monte is on the team, I’ve been playing with him my whole life, looked up to him. The team is like a perfect setting for me. I’m ready.”
Miller has been working on his game and his body through the COVID lockdown, as he wants to be ready to go when he arrives on campus. Although it isn’t the same, with no games and no opportunities to compete, he is still in the gym and doing a lot of body weight work.
“I’ve been in the gym and I’ve been working on my body a lot, because your body can slack,” Miller said. “I’ve been doing a lot of pushups, planks and bands keeping my body in shape so my game can stay up. I’m doing the same thing I would be doing, getting shots up, except I can’t scrimmage against other people. I’m just working on my game and focusing on what I need to get better on.”
Miller has also spent this off-season collecting awards, including Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois and the prestigious Mr. Basketball just this past week. Although you don’t play for the awards, it certainly means a lot and shows how his hard work has paid off.
“To win Gatorade player of the year and Mr. Basketball, and a couple of other awards, it means a lot,” Miller said. A lot of other people could have had that award, so for me to get that it shows I put in the effort and the people around me, my family, and my friends, they all helped me out. You don’t win that award in one season, it’s about character on and off the court. I’m just honored.”
Miller joins a pair of fall signees in top 50 point guard Andre Curbelo and top 150 forward Coleman Hawkins to make a top 15 recruiting class for Brad Underwood and his staff. Although Curbelo is the point guard, Miller feels like his own versatility and ability to play multiple positions on the floor and he can help the Illini early on
“I can bring the ball up and play point guard, or I can move to my scoring spot,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of ways I can affect the game.”
Miller is very excited about his two classmates and has really gotten to know Hawkins well. Hawkins was the first to commit to the Illini and he was in Miller’s ear from the beginning.
“Coleman was locked in since day 1,” Miller said. “I saw him at Myrtle Beach, and I got to see his game. He plays the game all around and he plays the game the right way. He can pass the ball, he can score the ball, he rebounds, he does everything. I feel like that’s the type of player I want to play with.”
Miller was also impressed with the Coaching of Brad Underwood this season, citing his flexibility in how he ran the team and his ability to adapt in season. Illinois went to a more ball screen heavy look and ran less spread, and Miller noticed.
“After they lost a couple of games, he changed the whole playbook,” Miller said. “That shows a great coach and willing coach to do it for his players and not just himself. Coach Underwood is a great coach.”
Miller has been recruiting 2021 Morgan Park star Brandon Weston to join him as well. The 6’5 wing has an Illini offer and speaks highly of the program. Weston is often mentioned as a possibly 2020 Illini target, and Miller would be alright with that.
“I’m in his ear daily,” Miller said of his talks with Weston. “I tell him we played together last year and destroyed the public league in Chicago, so you should join me at Illinois. His decision is going to be his decision, but I’m telling him how good we could be together.”
Miller follows another Morgan Park star, Ayo Dosunmu, who made a huge impact and changed the narrative regarding Illinois basketball. Miller enjoyed watching Dosunmu play for the Illini and wants to follow in his footsteps and take it to the next level.
“Ayo’s decision to come to Illinois, I got to sit back and watch him, and I enjoyed the ride he had,” Miller said. “He made history at Illinois, so hopefully I will be able to do the same thing at Illinois. That’s like a big brother to me. Hopefully, I can make those big shots.”
What does Illinois get in Miller and what can they expect? Rivals Corey Evans broke down his game.
One of the very best from the state, Miller will be a day one contributor for the Illini. He is most valued for his scoring prowess where he can take over the game in an instant. He wields a consistent jumper that he relies upon from each level on the floor. He can create for others whenever the opportunity is presented, is a fierce competitor and has developed into becoming a shutdown defender at either guard position.