Jordan Miller: an inspiration to Loudoun County youth

By Tabitha Reeves

In 2017, Jordan Miller led Loudoun Valley High School to its first basketball state championship with a record of 30-1 and was named player of the year in his league. Now, Miller is slated to play for National Basketball Association team the Los Angeles Clippers this fall.

Miller was the 48th overall pick in the NBA draft this June, after having recorded the second “perfect game” in National Collegiate Athletics Association history when he led the University of Miami to its first ever Final Four bid.

On July 28, friends and family of Miller, children bearing basketballs to be signed and members of the Purcellville community gathered inside the LVHS gymnasium to celebrate the 23-year-old’s basketball career so far.

“[I’m excited to] make the community proud, because the community is what gives me strength and the love I get from here means a lot to me,” Miller said.

During the opening speech of the event, Mayor Stanley Milan announced that Purcellville is to be called “Millerville” through July 31. 

Miller explained that he is grateful to have had various positive role models growing up, like his high school coach and his mother. However, as a young basketball player, he lacked an inspirational figure who made it from a small town to the big leagues. 

“I want to be an image of hope for the younger kids,” Miller said. “I’m hoping to have just paved the way for the younger kids and have them believe that ‘If Jordan Miller can do it, I can do it.’”

Milan believes that being from a small town was an asset to Miller’s success, given the genuine familial and local support that “manifests itself in all that you do on your journey in life.”

The event featured not only Milan as a speaker, but also Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), LVHS basketball coach Chad Dawson and Miller himself.

After speeches, Miller was available for a meet-and-greet, staying behind to sign basketballs brought by younger audience members. Eventually, he ended his night at The Purcellville Pub where he chatted with old friends and thanked local fans for their support. 

Though Donna Miller’s son has made it to the “big leagues,” she said that it doesn’t quite feel that way as a mother. For her, she is always proud and “in prayer” for the next step in Miller’s life.

Donna Miller first became aware of her son’s talent during high school games when audience members and coaches would approach her to talk. On various occasions, she was told that Miller has a “high basketball IQ.”

After watching more closely to how Miller plays the game, she came to realize what people meant by that.

“He’ll pass up a good play to make a great play,” Donna Miller said.

Dawson noticed Miller’s natural talent even before high school. When Miller attended Blue Ridge Middle School, Dawson watched Miller casually score points in a manner that set him apart from his age group.

While Miller has come a long way, he said that the path has not always been easy. For him, transitioning from one stage of life to another takes time to adjust to. 

Both Miller and Donna Miller recalled that Miller did not play at his best when he first began college basketball at George Mason. It took time for Miller to watch and learn the differences between high school and college basketball, but once he adjusted, he found himself thriving.

Similarly, upon deciding to transfer to University of Miami in 2021, Miller needed to adapt to a new team and atmosphere.

“There’s gonna be trials, there’s gonna be tribulations, but it’s how you push through it that is what makes you successful,” Miller said.

When talking about Miller’s success story, many noted that he stands out not only for his skill, but also for his character and personable nature.

In between fond stories of past basketball games and Miller’s friendship with his teammates, Dawson recalled asking Donna Miller “what she did to raise such fine young men,” referring not only to Miller, but also to his three brothers.

“When I think about the thing that’s most impressive about this young man is not that he got the perfect game, it’s not that he played for Miami,” Randall said. “The thing that’s so impressive about him is he’s kind. He’s a kind, nice, young man.”

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution at a business meeting on July 18 that recognized all Miller has achieved in his basketball career thus far. 

“Due to displaying excellence in his craft, and by starting in every contest of his final year of college, Jordan Miller has set an example of the dedication and commitment needed to reach these great achievements,” the resolution reads.

When it was Miller’s turn to give the closing speech of the event, he took the microphone from the podium in the center of the gymnasium and walked towards the bleachers as he spoke.

Directing his words at the children of the audience, he recounted nostalgic memories from his LVHS basketball days and expressed hope about the NBA journey ahead of him.

“The most important thing for me that I realized was dedication to whatever it is you love,” Miller said. “Kids, even if it’s not basketball. Whether you want to be an artist or musician or engineer, I want to be living proof that if you put your heart to it and you dedicate yourself to whatever it is you want to do that you guys can do it.”