Freshman guard Sarah Miller reflects on her optimistic outlook on basketball and training.
Credit: Lydia TongThe hot Arizona sun beamed down on the pavement, daring anyone to keep moving beneath its weight. But freshman guard Sarah Miller didn’t flinch. She dribbled and shot under the unforgiving sun, determined to put in the hours and better her game.
From those first sweat-drenched afternoons in her hometown to a standout freshman season at Penn, Miller’s journey has been one of quiet determination marked by grand ambitions — but above all, an obsession with progress. To Miller, every shot, every practice, every game is an opportunity to outdo the version of herself from the day before.
What started as a pastime soon became a pursuit. From practicing in the scorching heat in her hometown of Phoenix — with no intention to pursue basketball seriously and just looking for something new to try — to putting up double-digit stats as a freshman this year, Miller’s journey with basketball is a testament to the power of persistence. It is a road that proves that dedication and hard work can turn even the most casual beginnings into something extraordinary.
Miller fell in love with self-improvement and committed herself to becoming the best player she could be.
“I do love the game, but rather than loving the game, I just loved how I would get better, and see myself play better each game, each practice, trying to compare myself to myself instead of to anybody else, see if I was better than the last practice or the last game,” Miller said.
Miller didn’t pick up basketball until the fifth grade. She had been into dance and gymnastics but was looking to try something new. This thrill of personal growth is what eventually hooked Miller and led her to a future that now centers around the sport.
“At the time, I just really wanted to get good, so that’s what pushed me to continue doing basketball,” Miller said.
Her investment in the game grew, and she dedicated herself to practicing every day. Above all, she continued to push herself. Entering high school, Miller followed an older player and mentor to Xavier College Preparatory, whose team was struggling with an 18-11 record the previous year. With Miller’s help — putting up 13.5 points a game as a freshman — the team was able to turn around and finish the season 13-4.
“This kid never stops working, she would work before practice, after practice, and [then] some,” Miller’s high school coach Jennifer Gillom said. “She’s always trying to elevate her game. I can just give her one thing to work on, and she’ll go and improve.”
Miller noted that basketball was the one sport the school had never seen a state title in, and she had a dream to change that one day. After her first year, the teammate she followed to the school transferred, but Miller decided to stick with it, staying at Xavier for the team, coaching, and dedication to her dream.
After a successful sophomore season, Miller’s aspirations were placed on hold as she suffered an ACL injury and recovered during her junior year. Her dreams and work ethic didn’t falter, though.
“I really kept an optimistic outlook. … I practiced things that I didn’t have the time to practice when I was healthy, like fundamentals of intensely watching film, picking up skills, and just working on becoming more fundamentally sound and increasing my basketball IQ,” Miller said.
For some athletes, an injury can be devastating and create doubt, but Miller stuck with the sport through it all.
“[Miller] said, ‘Coach, I’ll be back, I’ll be back.’ I mean, it was devastating for her, believe me, but I knew this kid — if anyone could come back stronger, she could,” Gillom said.
During Miller’s senior year, the hard work paid off. In 2024, Xavier won the Arizona Open Division State Championship. This moment reflected much of what was to come for Miller.
“I was just so proud of all of us because it just made the things that were so difficult throughout the season so much sweeter, because they were all for a reason,” Miller said.
“That was the start of her believing, believing she can do anything, anything she wants,” Gillom added.
This mindset propelled Miller into a strong start to her freshman season at Penn. Miller is an offensive asset to the Quakers, who are especially reliant on her three-point threat on the perimeter. Miller has been named USBWA National Freshman of the Week as well as Ivy Rookie of the Week following her excellent shooting performance against La Salle in the Big 5 Classic, where she racked up a career-high 21 points.
Of course, as with any outside shooter, there are off days. But Miller is far from discouraged.
“I have to trust in the process and know that there’s gonna be ups and there’s gonna be downs,” she said.
Miller has already achieved great feats as just a freshman, and with her work ethic and dedication to self-improvement, her potential is limitless.
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