UNC Basketball News: Former Tar Heel has big opening night

While the Hubert Davis era got off to a great start for the UNC Basketball program, a former player made a quick early impression for his new team.

When Davis took over, the Tar Heels had lost some key members including Garrison Brooks, Walker Kessler, Day’Ron Sharpe, Andrew Platek and Walker Miller. Brooks, Kessler, Platek and Miller all transferred out while Sharpe left for the NBA.

And on Tuesday night, Miller had a big debut for his new team.

In Monmouth’s 68-66 loss to Charlotte, Miller finished the game with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, a good first start for the forward.

The former UNC Basketball walk-on spent four seasons at North Carolina primarily with a role on the team’s Blue Steel unit off the bench. He averaged just under a point per game for the Tar Heels in his career but did have a big impact on the team in terms of practice and having a role on the Blue Steel unit. He’s also the younger brother of former UNC guard Wes Miller who currently coaches at Cincinnati.

Miller opted to transfer to Monmouth for his final season after UNC welcomed in three transfers and two recruits. There simply wasn’t a role for him to earn valuable minutes and it was the right call to go to Monmouth to play under former UNC guard King Rice.

With Miller’s hard work, going some place not only to earn minutes but to start was key and so far he’s off to a great start at his new home. UNC and Monmouth have played in the past but the two teams are not scheduled to play this season so there won’t be a homecoming for the forward.

For more on Miller and other former UNC Basketball players, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.