Everyone is always looking for the next big thing, with an emphasis on recruiting getting younger and younger. With eighth-graders now landing full scholarship offers at major Division I programs, it's only a matter of time before elementary schoolers are getting serious looks from colleges.
Well, some of those elementary schoolers have already learned how to gain national attention, playing at regional AAU-style tournaments. As is always the case, one among that crop of youngsters has emerged as a true phenom in his own right.
Meet a fourth-grader named Mike Miles. You probably haven't seen him before, but if his first highlight reel is any indication, this is almost certainly not the last time you'll be seeing his name.
Miles was first brought to prominence by BallisLife, the basketball highlight website which culls many of the best hoops clips from across the nation. They tripped across Miles, who goes by the nickname "Mike Mike," stars for a Texas Titans fourth-grade squad that recently earned a tournament title in Atlanta.
While the Titans have any number of impressive youngsters, none compare to Mike Mike, who cuts through opposing defenses with efficiency and flair, almost reminiscent of a pint-sized Allen Iverson. Miles can break down a foe in the open floor or drive the lane and look for a late dish. He clearly has impeccable court vision for any teenager, let alone a fourth-grader.
It's impossible to know whether Miles will grow enough — either physically or on the court — to eventually emerge as a true prep or collegiate star. Regardless of what happens in his future, he'll now always be memorialized as one heck of a showman on the court, even though he still spends his days in an elementary school classroom.
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