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As the last recruit to play for Billy Gillispie prepares for his last home game in Rupp Arena, I wanted to look back on Darius Miller’s career as well as his exciting future ahead.
Not only did Miller survive BCG and his odd and cruel antics, but he also adjusted to taking more of a supportive role once John Calipari arrived at the University of Kentucky. As he watched five star recruit after five star recruit commit to the Wildcats, he continued to accept his role with pure maturation and dignity. Most normal ball players would have gotten upset, maybe even transferred out of the program. In fact, Miller was a high school star, and many other personalities would have an ego trip as several first round NBA picks came in and out of the program. Instead, Miller used this opportunity to improve his skills and ascertain more of a leadership role to guide the young teams he would take part in.
As a senior, Darius Miller has made the ultimate sacrifice, his starting position. Instead of whining and complaining about his new-found spot on the bench as the ball tipped, he used this opportunity to make the team the best it could be both on and off the court.
When Kentucky needed a pick me up on the road against Vandy, Miller played limited minutes due to foul trouble but came up with five huge points and a more than clutch assist to an open Doron Lamb for the three. This sparked the Wildcats in the last four minutes of that game to not only shut down Vanderbilt, but close out on a hungry team playing at home for College Gameday.
Fast forward to the Ole Miss game and the poster you will never forget over the Rebel’s Reginald Buckner. Miller sparked a team that may have overlooked this Mississippi team. He came in, played aggressive and kept his team alive.
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In both the Mississippi State game at the Hump, as well as Vandy game at home, Miller continued to be clutch. Hitting a three against the fighting dough boys to pull the Cats within one, eventually lead them to the road victory. Miller followed that act up with a more than clutch off-balance lay-up sealing the lead for Kentucky against the Commodores this past Saturday.
Darius Miller has let his teammates shine, and sometimes was criticized for letting them shine just a little too much, he now realizes this is his time. With only two regular season games left, Miller knows this is his turn to become the great Kentucky legacy, and he will shine when it counts.
[I]Follow Courtney Deuser on[/I] [I]Twitter [/I][I][URL=”http://twitter.com/wildcatty11″]@Wildcatty11 [/URL][/I][I]for[/I] [I]more UK sports insight.[/I]
