Being born into a family with a last name ‘Miller’ comes with its fair share of perks…and pressure. When your dad is hip-hop icon Master P, expectations can be sky-high. But for Hercy Miller, basketball was always the passion. He didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps into the entertainment industry. Instead, he took his own route, grinding through injuries, transfers, and setbacks, always keeping his love for the game alive.
Now, in his senior year, Miller has stepped into a leadership role at Southern Utah. In an exclusive chat with EssentiallySports, he opened up about how he’s embraced the responsibility of guiding his younger teammates. When asked how his role has evolved as a senior guard, he said:
“Yeah so me… my role, I felt like it was very important because I had to be a leader. You know, we had a young team, freshmen looking up to me. I had to play a role where we really had to depend on myself with injury and everything. So I feel like just kind of being like a guard like a Chris Paul to where I can lead others and still do my thing.”
And honestly, who better than CP3 to look up to when learning how to excel as both a scorer and a leader? Even at 39, the 12x NBA All-Star is still setting the tone for younger players in San Antonio, mentoring rookies like Stephon Castle while still putting up good performances himself. It’s that mix of leadership and personal impact that Miller aimed to bring to the court at SUU.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: Southern Utah at UCLA Nov 26, 2024 Los Angeles, California, USA NCAA referee Deidre Carr interacts with Southern Utah Thunderbirds guard Hercy Miller 15 in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Los Angeles Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20241126_jhp_al2_0243
And with Thunderbirds leaning heavily on sophomores and juniors next season, the seniors had to make sure they passed down every bit of wisdom they could. Miller, despite battling injuries throughout his career, obviously, knows a thing or two about the game. He started his college journey at Tennessee State but suffered a season-ending injury in his very first game. A transfer to Xavier followed, though he was benched due to mid-season transfer rules.
Then came Louisville, where he got some playing time but faced another hip injury, ultimately cutting his final season short. Through it all, he kept pushing forward. Landing at Southern Utah, Miller finally had his best season. Finishing as the fourth-best scorer, he appeared in 26 games, averaging 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
The Thunderbirds had a historic start, going 8-2—the second-best season opening in program history. But with key players like Tavi Jackson and Dominique Ford missing time due to injuries, SUU struggled to maintain momentum, finishing the season 12-19. Their run ended with a loss to Utah Tech in the WAC Tournament’s first round.
However, while Hercy’s season has wrapped up, his younger brother is still chasing history.
Hercy Miller’s brother keeps the title chase alive
Remember Houston’s dominant win over SIU Edwardsville in the Round of 32? That was when freshman Mercy Miller caught the spotlight with an eye-catching chasedown block. But it wasn’t just his hustle that turned heads—his name had fans doing a double take.
The youngest of the Miller brothers, Mercy has been quietly making a name for himself. And if there was any doubt about his father’s pride, Master P made sure the world knew. Within 48 hours of that game, he had posted about his son three separate times on Instagram, calling him “#TheFuture” and captioning the post, “It’s March Madness!!!! My son”
Now, Mercy and Houston are heading to their sixth straight Sweet 16, after holding off Gonzaga in an intense 81-76 battle. That win not only secured Houston’s spot in the next round but also ended Gonzaga’s streak of nine straight Sweet 16 appearances—the longest active run in the nation.
No two programs have won more games than Gonzaga and Houston in the past eight years, making this second-round clash feel more like a Final Four matchup than an early tournament game. But from the jump, Houston played like the No. 1 seed they are, handling their business and punching their ticket to the next round. Now, they’ll face No. 4 seed Purdue in the regional semifinal on Friday night in Indianapolis.
So, all in all, while Hercy’s senior year has come to a close, his brother is just beginning his collegiate career. Let’s see if he can keep the Miller family name rolling in the basketball world.
The post 12x NBA All-Star Becomes the X-Factor for Southern Utah’s Hercy Miller as He Embraces Leadership Role (Exclusive) appeared first on EssentiallySports.
