Senior Ashley Miller is a star athlete and serves as a team captain in two varsity sports at Westminster Christian School – basketball and track and field. On the court, she’s ranked as a top 10 forward in the state and one of the top rebounders in Miami-Dade County, averaging 14 rebounds a game. On the track field, Miller excels at shot put and discus. She has been named All Miami-Dade honorable mention in both sports.
During a basketball game in January, Miller passed a 600-rebound career milestone. She’s been chosen to play in the Nike Dade vs. Broward All-Star basketball game and the 4A-1A Private School All-Star game, both scheduled in March.
Miller played for the Tamiami Fury travel team in the summer of 2011 and was ranked as one of the top Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball players, age 17-18. There were 132 girls from across the country in this age group and Miller was one of only three from South Florida to earn this honor.
“When you compete at this level against players from all over the U.S., you begin to realize how you stack up,” Miller said. “I just want to know that in each game, I’ve given it my all. I’m always striving to play better and I never feel like I’ve reached my peak performance.”
At the end of basketball season, Miller steps right into track season.
“I actually miss the first few weeks of track practice, but I catch up quickly,” she said.
In shot put and discus, Miller has reached the Class 2A State finals in back to back seasons during her sophomore and junior years.
Miller’s passion for sports spills over to her volunteer work. She partnered with members of the Westminster boys’ and girls’ basketball teams to raise money to buy holiday presents for the children living at His House Children’s Home, an organization that provides residential care for abused, neglected and drug-exposed children. The group raised more than $1,500 each season for two years.
Miller has also served as a Warriors basketball camp counselor at Westminster during the summers, helping younger girls learn the fundamentals of the game and inspiring them to pursue their sports dreams.
“I really enjoy working with children,” she said. “Even after I graduate, I plan to come back and help with the basketball programs here at Westminster.”
Miller plans to study Human Resources Management in college and will follow in her mother’s footsteps and join a sorority. She said that she is very close to her family and would like to attend a college close to home.
Although she has been offered a scholarship to Ave Maria University and accepted to several schools, including Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University and the University of Alabama, she is waiting to hear from the school of her dreams – the University of Miami – where both of her parents attended and her mother has worked for 25 years.
“I’ve grown up attending UM basketball and football games with my family and have wonderful memories of cheering for the Canes teams,” said Miller. “I bleed orange and green.”
