Leonard Miller living his pro dreams with G League Ignite
Editor’s note: The Minnesota Timberwolves selected F Leonard Miller with the No. 33 pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22.
HENDERSON, Nev. (BVM) — When Leonard Miller arrived at Fort Erie International Academy in 2021, he had zero collegiate offers. Two years later, he is a projected first-round pick for the 2023 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-10, 210-pound forward bounced around a little bit looking for the right fit at the prep level, including stints in Utah and Florida. For his final year, the Scarborough native decided to move back to Ontario, one of the best decisions he has ever made.
鈥淭hat experience was a lot of work and a lot of dedication,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚 just put a lot of work in and it paid off. There鈥檚 no secret formula that I have, but I鈥檓 just glad to be in this position.鈥�
In Fort Erie鈥檚 inaugural season, Miller led them to a championship title in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association. He was also named the league鈥檚 MVP.
鈥淚 felt like that experience was like no other,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淓very one of my teammates played good and we all contributed to winning.鈥�
Now a member of the G-League Ignite, Miller will look to continue the trend of the Canadian takeover of the NBA in the near future. Going into this season, there were 22 players on NBA rosters from Canada.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of where I鈥檓 from,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淎ny chance I get to put on for the people back home it鈥檚 like a blessing to get the opportunity to do so.鈥�
When Miller鈥檚 time in Fort Erie came to an end and he had to decide on his future, he had racked up 25 collegiate offers. But Miller was enamored with the opportunity of playing with the fairly new G-League Ignite team.
鈥淚t was a place and an organization where I could see myself reaching my goals and putting myself in the best position possible to do what I鈥檝e got to do,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淓verything about it is ideal for what I need to give me that 鈥榩ush.鈥�鈥�
But for Miller, getting the chance to play for the G-League Ignite was a big goal within itself. Many dream of the opportunity to play professional basketball and now he is doing just that.
鈥淭o be in this position to live my pro dreams as a pro athlete at a young age right now is something not many people have done,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚鈥檓 kind of helping set a new trend with the new wave of athletes coming up in the future.鈥�
But for Miller, this is not the end goal.
While it could be easy for him to look ahead, Miller is focused on what he can do in the present to give him the best chance of success in the future.
鈥淔rom start to finish, I just want to see the big jump in my game,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚 just want to get better. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 here to do.鈥�