Miller looks to FSU basketball season after helping Spain win championship
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By Brooke Spreitzer
Seminoles.com
Florida State sophomore Baba Miller enjoyed an incredible summer of basketball as a member of Spain’s U19 team that won the FIBA U19 World Championship in Hungary.
Miller’s performance was so convincing that he was invited by his country’s basketball federation to practice with Span’s full national team as it prepared for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Championships.
Miller and his U19 teammates won the FIBA World Championship in July, with a 73-69 overtime victory over France. He was a starter in each of Spain’s seven games and averaged 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds. Spain defeated Canada, France, China, Lebanon, Argentina, Turkey, and France to win the championship.
Miller was then invited back to Spain in July to train with the Spain’s National team as it prepared for the FIBA World Cup championships. The team is coached by the renowned Sergio Scariolo, who led Spain to the 2019 World Championship. Scariolo also led Spain to a silver medal in the 2012 Olympics and to a bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics.
“Practicing with the men’s team was not just playing at a high level of physical intensity, but the level of basketball IQ they possess was what made it really special,” said Miller. “The mental sharpness you need to play there, and against that group of players, is really impressive.”
Miller was surrounded by incredibly experienced players – a team that included Santiago Aldama of the Memphis Grizzlies and Usman Garuba of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Miller gained the opportunity to mature and grow from the top players in the world.
“My biggest takeaway form the U19 World Cup is that the team has to be on the same page if we want to win,” said Miller. “When it came to playing with the men’s (national) team, it really showed me how good you have to be to earn the chance to play at that level.”
As he begins his sophomore season at Florida State this fall, Miller said he is thankful for his opportunity and believes that he became a better basketball player.
“Just having the experience under my belt gives me the confidence to not just improve my game, but to help my teammates as well with the knowledge I gained over the summer playing with both teams,” said Miller.
Miller has arrived back on campus and is practicing with his Florida State teammates in preparation for the upcoming season. The Seminoles start the season on Nov. 10 against Kennesaw State.
