Together with her faculty basketball profession nearing its finish and knowledgeable profession in her plans, Quay Miller has taken a while to ponder what life can be like with out the sport.
“It’s simply thrilling to see what my future may seem like,” she mentioned. “I’d in all probability be a principal or go to culinary college. One thing for positive serving to folks. Or cooking of some type.”
It’s a becoming response for a younger lady who, along with being a fantastic participant for the Colorado ladies’s basketball workforce, has constructed a popularity for serving to others and being a fantastic human off the courtroom.
“She’s simply meant a lot (to this system),” CU head coach JR Payne mentioned. “She’s one of the crucial unselfish, loving human beings I’ve ever recognized and he or she’s simply been an enormous a part of our success.”
On Saturday, the Thirteenth-ranked Buffaloes will honor Miller and 5 others in the course of the annual Senior Day celebration forward of their matchup with Washington State.
Jaylyn Sherrod, an all-time nice level guard for the Buffs, headlines the checklist of seniors, whereas guards Maddie Nolan and Tameiya Sadler, heart Charlotte Whittaker and walk-on guard Sophie Gerber may also be honored.
Every of the six has a novel story, together with Miller, a 6-foot-3 ahead who didn’t begin her profession at CU however couldn’t be happier to finish it right here.
“I just like the Buff nation,” she mentioned. “They’re very welcoming and I’m joyful to be part of them.
“I like our followers, and I like my followers. I prefer to see them after I’m enjoying and I prefer to see them after I’m out and about.”
Popping out of Kentridge Excessive Faculty in Renton, Wash., in 2019, Miller was recruited by Payne and assistant coach Alex Earl, however selected to remain near dwelling and play for the Washington Huskies.
A key reserve as a freshman, Miller began each sport for the Huskies as a sophomore, averaging 9.9 factors and 6.0 rebounds. Within the 2021 Pac-12 match, she and Sadler have been pivotal within the Eleventh-seeded Huskies’ stunning 68-54 upset of No. 6-seeded CU, ending the Buffs’ hopes of reaching the NCAA Match.
About six weeks later, Miller and Sadler made the choice to switch to CU. Miller has by no means regretted her alternative.
“I feel that was simply very essential, particularly understanding what I needed,” she mentioned of transferring. “I feel that after I transferred, I nonetheless didn’t actually perceive what I needed however I knew that I used to be coming to an area the place I’d be comfy, understanding JR and coach Alex; understanding them since highschool, understanding that they nonetheless had love for me the identical means after they recruited me, even after I didn’t select to come back right here to begin my profession.”
Miller knew one thing else in regards to the Buffs, too. Though she helped orchestrate an upset of the Buffs, Miller had two dropping seasons in Seattle and the Huskies have been about to begin over with a brand new coach. CU, in the meantime, had upset No. 1 Stanford in that 2020-21 season after which made a run to the WNIT quarterfinals.
“They have been one of many groups that knew find out how to compete,” Miller mentioned. “I got here right here with the thought in my thoughts being like, ‘That is actually one of many solely Pac-12 groups that has crushed Stanford,’ and to me that simply spoke volumes to the tradition and the mindset of Colorado,” she mentioned. “After I got here right here I understood how they have been in a position to take action.
“So, yeah, I positively don’t remorse this resolution.”
In her three seasons with the Buffs, Miller has been an integral a part of a rising program that snapped a nine-year NCAA Match drought in 2022, reached the Candy 16 in 2023 and has spent most of this 12 months ranked among the many prime 10 nationally.
Though not a starter in 2021-22, Miller was voted the Pac-12’s sixth participant of the 12 months. Final 12 months, she earned first-team all-conference honors. Regardless of enjoying simply three seasons in Boulder, Miller is considered one of solely 35 gamers in program historical past to prime 1,000 profession factors (1,039) and he or she’s sixteenth in profession rebounds (673). Add within the Washington years and Miller has racked up 1,400 factors and 889 rebounds in her stellar profession.
Initially compelled by her mom to play basketball, Miller grew to comprehend her potential and what the sport may do for her. She’s grateful that being ok be on scholarship saved her from the stress that others have in making an attempt to get by way of faculty.
“With out basketball clearly I wouldn’t be within the place that I’m in now,” she mentioned.
She is positioned to play professionally, both within the WNBA or abroad. She’s positioned for a vibrant future off the courtroom, too.
Miller’s additionally not too nervous in regards to the future simply but. She’s not performed making recollections with the Buffs, and that features specializing in every second.
“I’m simply taking it day-to-day,” she mentioned. “I’ve shifted my mindset to not likely take into consideration like, ‘Oh, it’s coming to an finish’ or this and that. I’m similar to, ‘Oh, yeah, we’ve acquired movie and observe in an hour.’
“I don’t suppose (the top has) hit me but and I’m simply soaking all of it in.”
No. 13 CU Buffs ladies’s basketball vs. Washington State Cougars
TIPOFF: Saturday, 1 p.m., CU Occasions Middle
TV/RADIO: Pac-12 Community/630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 21-7 (11-6 Pac-12); Washington State 17-13 (6-10 Pac-12)
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, eighth season (140-100; 241-213 profession). Washington State — Kamie Ethridge, seventh season (91-88; 174-132 profession).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Sr. (12.7 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.1 spg, .441 FG%, .418 3PT%, .931 FT%); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, .337 3PT%); G Maddie Nolan, 5-11, Sr. (6.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .448 3PT%); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.1 spg, .459 FG%); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, Jr. (14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .566 FG%); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Jr. (5.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg, .466 FG%). Washington State — G/F Beyonce Bea, 6-1, Sr. (6.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .517 FG%); C Bella Murekatete, 6-3, Sr. (12.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.7 spg, .524 FG%); G Astera Tuhina, 5-9, So. (9.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.4 spg, .425 3PT%); G Eleonora Villa, 5-8, Fr. (12.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, .341 3PT%); G Jenna Villa, 6-1, Fr. (6.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .952 FT%); G Tara Wallack, 6-2, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, .469 FG%, .815 FT%).
NOTES: In Payne’s tenure, the Buffs are 6-1 on senior day, together with 4 consecutive wins. … Coming into the ultimate day of the common season, CU may end anyplace from fourth to sixth within the Pac-12 standings. Washington State may end ninth or tenth. … CU is No. 16 within the NET rankings and WSU is No. 26. … WSU leads the all-time sequence 14-11, however CU is 7-4 in opposition to the Cougars in Boulder. … The Buffs misplaced to the Cougars within the Pac-12 semifinals final 12 months, however have gained the final three common season conferences, together with 63-57 in Pullman on Feb. 2. Formann had 27 factors. … The Buffs are 11-2 at dwelling, whereas WSU is 6-6 on the street, together with an 82-67 loss at No. 18 Utah on Thursday. … Sherrod wants one level to achieve 1,400 for her profession. She can also be slated to make her 128th profession begin, which might set a brand new CU report. … On Jan. 28, WSU upset then-No. 2 UCLA in Los Angeles, however misplaced prime participant Charlisse Leger-Walker (13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.1 apg) to a season-ending damage. Since then, the Cougars are 2-7. … Eleonora Villa has averaged 14.9 factors since Leger-Walker’s damage.
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