It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since Darius Miller arrived at the University of Kentucky.
It’s even harder envisioning the Wildcats without Miller, who will play his last game at Rupp Arena tonight against Georgia.
The Kentucky senior has endured a roller-coaster ride in his tenure at Kentucky that featured an NIT bid during his first season with the Wildcats, followed by an NCAA¿Final Four appearance a year ago in Houston.
Before Miller made a name for himself at Kentucky, he spent his prep career at the Mason County Fieldhouse in Maysville. As one of the schools in the 10th Region, the Royals compete against George Rogers Clark High School on a regular basis, with most of those contests determining who receives a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
During Miller’s junior campaign, Clark defeated the Royals in the finals of the regional tournament at the Fieldhouse and reached the state tournament for the first time in 17 years at the time. Even in defeat, Miller was gracious and wasn’t bitter toward the Cardinals. He was obviously disappointed in the team’s loss to Clark, but at the same time, he gave credit where it was due.
That was Darius.
The following season, Miller and the Royals knocked off Clark in the semifinals of the 10th Region Tournament at the MCHS Arena in Mount Sterling. Even though Mason County avenged the loss to Clark the previous year, Miller didn’t gloat about beating the Cards.
That was Darius.
The Royals went on to win the state tournament and Miller was crowned Mr. Basketball. Much to the delight of Blue and White followers in Maysville, Miller signed with Kentucky and opted against following the same path Chris Lofton took following his prep career at Mason County. Snubbed by former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, Lofton went on to enjoy a successful career at the University of Tennessee. Miller chose to wear the Blue and White.
Miller’s first season at Kentucky was Billy Gillispie’s final one in Lexington. Making the transition from high school to college was difficult, but even harder playing under Gillispie. It would have been easy to understand Miller thinking about a transfer, but he stayed the course.
That was Darius.
Facing an uncertain future following the arrival of John Calipari, Miller stuck with the Wildcats and played behind a cast of players that featured 10 draft picks during the past two years. Additionally, he’s had 40 teammates in his four-year career. Instead of getting down, Miller remained a loyal teammate and had his shining moment in the Southeastern Conference Tournament last season, where he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Cats to the title. He savored the moment and remained on an even keel.
That was Darius.
This year, Miller has served as Kentucky’s sixth man on a squad that likely will close out the regular season as the top-ranked team in the nation. Tonight, he will appear in his final game at Rupp Arena, the same venue where he led the Royals to the state title four years ago.
It’s certain to be an emotional farewell for Miller, but following the game, he will move on to the next chapter in his life and count his time with the Cats as a blessing.
That’s just Darius.
It’s even harder envisioning the Wildcats without Miller, who will play his last game at Rupp Arena tonight against Georgia.
The Kentucky senior has endured a roller-coaster ride in his tenure at Kentucky that featured an NIT bid during his first season with the Wildcats, followed by an NCAA¿Final Four appearance a year ago in Houston.
Before Miller made a name for himself at Kentucky, he spent his prep career at the Mason County Fieldhouse in Maysville. As one of the schools in the 10th Region, the Royals compete against George Rogers Clark High School on a regular basis, with most of those contests determining who receives a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
During Miller’s junior campaign, Clark defeated the Royals in the finals of the regional tournament at the Fieldhouse and reached the state tournament for the first time in 17 years at the time. Even in defeat, Miller was gracious and wasn’t bitter toward the Cardinals. He was obviously disappointed in the team’s loss to Clark, but at the same time, he gave credit where it was due.
That was Darius.
The following season, Miller and the Royals knocked off Clark in the semifinals of the 10th Region Tournament at the MCHS Arena in Mount Sterling. Even though Mason County avenged the loss to Clark the previous year, Miller didn’t gloat about beating the Cards.
That was Darius.
The Royals went on to win the state tournament and Miller was crowned Mr. Basketball. Much to the delight of Blue and White followers in Maysville, Miller signed with Kentucky and opted against following the same path Chris Lofton took following his prep career at Mason County. Snubbed by former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, Lofton went on to enjoy a successful career at the University of Tennessee. Miller chose to wear the Blue and White.
Miller’s first season at Kentucky was Billy Gillispie’s final one in Lexington. Making the transition from high school to college was difficult, but even harder playing under Gillispie. It would have been easy to understand Miller thinking about a transfer, but he stayed the course.
That was Darius.
Facing an uncertain future following the arrival of John Calipari, Miller stuck with the Wildcats and played behind a cast of players that featured 10 draft picks during the past two years. Additionally, he’s had 40 teammates in his four-year career. Instead of getting down, Miller remained a loyal teammate and had his shining moment in the Southeastern Conference Tournament last season, where he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Cats to the title. He savored the moment and remained on an even keel.
That was Darius.
This year, Miller has served as Kentucky’s sixth man on a squad that likely will close out the regular season as the top-ranked team in the nation. Tonight, he will appear in his final game at Rupp Arena, the same venue where he led the Royals to the state title four years ago.
It’s certain to be an emotional farewell for Miller, but following the game, he will move on to the next chapter in his life and count his time with the Cats as a blessing.
That’s just Darius.
