FORT WORTH, Texas — According to TCU sophomore guard Mike Miles, “if you ain’t never dreamed of playing in the NCAA tournament, you not a basketball player.”
March Madness has been on his mind since the day he stepped foot on the hardwood. Miles even remembers a time in sixth grade when one of the NCAA tournament locations was in Dallas.
What You Need To Know
Mike Miles is one of the top five scorers in the Big 12 this season, averaging 15.4 points per game.
His pregame ritual is always the same. Before every contest, Mike eats Wild Berry Skittles and puts on his left shoe followed by his right shoe (in that order)
As a senior at Lancaster High School, Mike won a 5A state championship
Mike Miles is one of the top five scorers in the Big 12 this season, averaging 15.4 points per game.
His pregame ritual is always the same. Before every contest, Mike eats Wild Berry Skittles and puts on his left shoe followed by his right shoe (in that order)
As a senior at Lancaster High School, Mike won a 5A state championship
“I was supposed to go to one of the games with my mom but it was snowing real bad,” Mike said. “So we just turned around and watched it at home on TV. I just remember saying, one day that’s going to be me out there. But I won’t have to drive to the game. I’ll be playing on the court.”
In a month’s time, he might be doing so. The TCU Horned Frogs haven’t clinched a bid to the NCAA tournament since 2018. But Miles came to Fort Worth to change that narrative.
“I feel like I can do everything,” he said confidently. “I don’t think there is one specific thing I’m bad at. I feel like I’m an all-around player. Obviously everyone knows I can score the ball. But I feel like my passing is really underrated.”
Last year Miles was among the top three scorers in the Big 12. The other two players, Cade Cunningham and Greg Brown, each declared for the NBA Draft. Miles, however, chose to run it back.
“That was their path,” he said. “I feel like coming back for a second year was the right decision for me. It wasn’t hard, it was easy.”
His competitive drive certainly helped make the decision a no-brainer.
“I’ve won everywhere I’ve been and last year we didn’t win. So that was the main reason I came back— to win games.”
Miles, a state champion at Lancaster High School, found his home-away-from-home close to home.
“I chose the right school,” he said proudly. “Everything about the recruiting process is picking where you fit best, and I did that. Coach Dixon has trusted me from day one.”
The thing he loves most about the game is the brotherhood in the locker room.
“You get to be around your teammates and people all day, every day,” Miles said. “You get to learn their stories on and off the court. I love the camaraderie, especially when you’re winning.”
Miles' end goal is to play professionally in the NBA. But not before he takes care of unfinished business at TCU.
“[The NBA] is obviously where I want to be,” he said. “But right now I’m just focused on getting to the tournament. I’m a winner. Right now, March Madness is the goal for me.”