Mike Miles Jr.’s basketball career saw a meteoric rise when his fourth-grade highlight tape went viral on YouTube, amassing more than 4 million views and counting. He went on to become a four-star recruit by Rivals, leading Lancaster High School to the Texas’ state tournament finishing with a 36-1 record (12-0 in the district). Most recently, he led TCU to the 2022 NCAA Tournament and was named to the Second Team All-Big 12.

What was it like growing up in the Highland Hills neighborhood of Dallas?

It was bad. It was not a good part to live in, but I got through it, so it made me a better man. It made me have to grow up at an early age, but I have great memories from where I’m from. It definitely wasn’t fun all the time.

Was there a strong basketball culture around you?

Yeah, I pretty much say everyone I grew up with always went to the park and I had a basketball hoop in the front of my house. So a lot of people came and played basketball at my house.

Was there a player or a personal figure that inspired you to play?

I’ll say Allen Iverson. I think that’s the first player I’ve ever seen play and it kind of made me go towards basketball along with my brother. So, Allen Iverson and my older brother I say are the two people.

Did you model your game after anyone? Was it Allen Iverson?

When I was younger it was Allen Iverson, but I don’t really play like Allen Iverson anymore. Right now, I don’t really think I pattern my game after anybody but growing up it was definitely Allen Iverson.

Miles chose to wear No. 1 because of one of his favorite NBA players, Derrick Rose. Courtesy of TCU Athletics | Ellman Photography

Did you ever imagine your future? What did it look like?

In the NBA someday, obviously. Doing good hopefully. That’s what I wish and what I hope my future looks like.

When did you begin taking ball seriously?

Sixth grade is probably when I first started taking it seriously because growing up, I was always good, but I never really worked out or anything like that. When I got to middle school I started taking it seriously.

Bill Russell used to get so nervous before games that he would start vomiting. Do you experience similar anxiety? Or how would you describe your state of mind before games?

Before games I’m pretty calm. I’d say the only thing I always have to do before a game is always gotta pee. But other than that, I’m nervous a little bit but not to where I have to throw up or anything like that.

Can you detail the differences between Amateur Athletic Union and high school ball?

High school ball was slower, obviously because I played in Texas, so there wasn’t a shot clock. In AAU, there was a shot clock in every tournament we played in. So high school basketball in Texas was just extremely slower.

Recently there’s been discourse around if Amateur Athletic Union and “ballislife” — a platform that highlights basketball coverage and video mixtapes — culture ball is bad for basketball. What do you think?

I’m kind of biased because ballislife is how I blew up when I was younger, so I think it’s great if you ask me. I love ballislife and not only ballislife, but every other basketball platform like overtime and things like that. So, I think it’s good for basketball.

Is there any significance behind your jersey No. 1?

Yep, Derrick Rose. After Allen Iverson, Derrick Rose was my favorite player. I used to wear 3, then I changed my number to 1. I’ve been No. 1 for a long time.

“I feel like we have more things to do, more things to accomplish, and I don’t feel like I would have found anything anywhere else like I found here.”
Mike Miles

Why did you choose to play at TCU?

It is close to my family. Everyone can come watch me play and I had a great relationship with Coach Jamie Dixon ’87. TCU recruited me when I was a freshman, so that was four years in high school that I got to know Coach Dixon. I knew Coach Tony Benford when I was younger and then he came here so it was just an easy decision for me.

Does Mike Miles on the court differ from Mike Miles off the court? If so, in what ways?

No, I don’t think so. I’m pretty much the same on and off the court. Quiet, reserved, but you know, I do have moments in the game where I yell and stuff like that, but I’m pretty much the same on and off the court.

In March the team learned it would make its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance. What was it like waiting to hear TCU’s seed in the tournament?

I’m not going to lie, on that day I was nervous just to see who were going to play. It was my first time in the tournament, a lot of my teammates’ first time in the tournament. That’s probably when I was the most nervous, I’d say just waiting to see who we would be playing.

How did you feel going into the tournament?

I felt really good after the practices we had. Going to San Diego I felt really good and confident that we were going to win. And we did. We didn’t get as far as we wanted to, but I felt good going into the tournament.

In the second round of the NCAA Tournament TCU fell in overtime to the No. 1 seeded Arizona. Does the end of the game against Arizona still bother you?

It does, but I’m trying to move past it. I don’t know how soon I will, I think I’ll be over it in a little while, but it definitely still bothers me.

At the end of March you announced on social media that you were declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft. You decided to return to TCU for your junior season, tweeting “Coming back to finish what we started with my brothers!! #UnfinishedBusiness.” Why did you decide to return?

I wanted to come back and play with my team. This is my favorite team I’ve ever been a part of. I feel like we have more things to do, more things to accomplish, and I don’t feel like I would have found anything anywhere else like I found here. Those are my main reasons for coming back.

What have you learned during your collegiate career thus far?

Taking care of my body is definitely the thing I learned the most. It’s a lot of practices, a lot of games, especially in our conference.

How would you describe yourself as a teammate?

I’m a good teammate. I feel like I’m always encouraging my teammates. I never really bring them down even when they miss a shot, airball a shot. I tell them “good shot” or “next shot.” I try my best as a leader to just encourage my teammates so they’ll play well, because when they play well it helps everyone else.

Would you rather have the game-winning basket or game-winning block?

Basket. I’m short, I’m not getting too many blocks, so the game-winning basket.

Kevin Durant described playing ball as a meditative state. Is this the same for you? Or how would you describe it?

I definitely would describe it that way, especially if you’re a real basketball player — then you know how it feels. It calms you when you love basketball so much. Sometimes it feels like that’s the only thing that can take things off your mind.

Do you enjoy pleasing the home crowd or silencing the opposing fans more?

Silencing opposing fans — I like road games.

In light of the treatment Boston Celtics fans have been giving Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green — vulgar chants during the NBA Finals — does heckling from the fans affect or bother you?

No, I kind of like it. I’m used to it now and it happened a lot during high school. In college, it’s louder and there are crazier things being said. But I like it, and it doesn’t really bother me.

What hobbies do you enjoy outside of the game?

Sleeping, eating, playing video games. I like watching movies too.

How do you remain focused despite temptation?

I just try to remember the main goal, what I’m here for and what I’m trying to accomplish. There’s always going to be things out there that people want you to do that might not necessarily help you. In the end, you must remain focused on your main goal.

Has the Name Image Likeness helped your experience in anyway?

Life is always better when you have money. You make money and everything feels a little better, so it’s helped my college experience.

Give me your all time starting five.

Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal.

You’re from Dallas, you’re not going to name Dirk Nowitzki?

I was thinking about it. He was right there. I wanted to put him in, but I just had to go with Tim Duncan.

MJ or LeBron?

LeBron. ’Bron over everybody.

When it’s all said and done, how do you want fans to remember your time at TCU?

I want to be remembered for doing something that’s never been done before at this school. When I’m done, I just want people to remember me. Hopefully I leave a legacy at this school.

What can we expect this season?

Big things, better things. More wins. A lot of things, a lot of accomplishments—team goals and personal.

“It calms you when you love basketball so much. Sometimes it feels like that’s the only thing that can take things off your mind.”
Mike Miles