As a basketball player, Hannah Miller likes to have plenty of options. But as far as playing college basketball, she has limited herself to just one.
Miller eliminated all other college options by signing a letter-of-intent to play for the Shawnee State University Bears.
“They want me more as a secondary or two (shooting) guard,” said Miller. “It gives me more options. As a point guard I have to start off the dribble. As a two, I have more time to think about what I want to do.”
The choice of Shawnee State’s didn’t come easily for Miller who had numerous offers including Ohio Dominican, Ursuline College and Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland.
“It was close to home and I really want my family and friends to see me play,” said Miller.
“I want to be close enough to see my family but far enough away to be on my own.”
The St. Joseph Female Flyers 5-foot-9 senior point guard is a two-time All-Ohio selection with more than 1,000 career points.
A four-year starter, Miller averaged 18.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals a game last season.
Miller isn’t expecting to walk out of high school and into a major role with the Bears, but she said second-year head coach Jeff Nickel hasn’t ruled out anything.
“They lose six of their top nine players,” said Miller. “As for playing time, coach Nickel said it all depends on how hard you want to work for him. He doesn’t care if you’re a freshman or a senior.”
But in order to make the transition from high school to college, Miller said there is a lot of hard work ahead.
“I have to get better at going to the basket and finishing. I need to get stronger. I’m working on that now. Their strength coach (Doren Martin) is helping me get stronger. I’m not where I want to be,” said Miller.
With her college future secure, Miller only wants to focus her attention on the task at hand as she looks to help the Female Flyers equal or improve on last year’s 16-7 record.
“The pressure’s not gone, but a lot has been lifted,” said Miller with a sigh of relief. “There’s still a lot of pressure on me to do well this year.”
Hannah is the daughter of Nick and Leslie Miller of Coal Grove. She plans to become a sports medicine physician.