Camden Miller smiles after signing her National Letter of Intent to play basketball next winter at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Not every high school recruiting story ends with a signing.
For Douglas High senior Camden Miller, it’s no longer a worry.
Last Wednesday, Miller inked her commitment to Biola University, a Division II basketball program in La Mirada, Calif.
Her journey to collegiate hoops hasn’t been an easy one after tearing her ACL during a soccer game this past fall.
The injury forced her to miss most of the soccer season and the entirety of the winter hoops slate.
Her recruitment might have slowed, but Miller has found her next stop after months of rehabbing and faith in herself.
“It’s still hard to process. It’s been a long time coming and the weight is off my shoulders. I’ve been working for this for a long time,” said Miller. “When I got the call, I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. I didn’t even listen to anything else he said.”
A unique opportunity
Not only has Miller fulfilled her dreams of playing collegiate basketball, but she will join her sister, Peyton, at Biola.
“It’ll be like a home away from home with her there. We’ve gotten so close,” said Miller.
The Tiger senior still plans on focusing her time in the classroom in pre-med studies.
“I’ve wanted to do something in that area for a long time,” said Miller. “I want to kind of stay in the realm of sports, but we will see where that takes me.”
On the floor last winter, Biola went 13-7 in PacWest conference play before falling in the opening round of the conference tournament.
The program competes at the Division II level and is coached by Alan Nakamura, who just wrapped up his eighth season in charge of the Eagles.
“It’s a Christian school. I really like the coaches. I got to know them and I went to a few games,” Miller added.
The outgoing senior added that her physical therapist, Rene Hoogendijk, was a big reason she was able to get to the point of playing basketball again.
After signing in the high school commons, Miller reflected on the path to make her college decision official.
“It’s really special, especially with all my friends and my family. It’s really neat because they have been there through a lot of it. The good and the bad,” Miller said.