Kiyomi McMiller is a name to pay attention to in the future. The 5-foot-9 shooting guard sure knows how to keep her game top-notch. And while nothing less than that was expected from her at the Jordan Brand Classic event, Kiyomi was certainly so much more than the hype. The Jordan Brand Classic invited talented teen athletes nationwide to its 23rd edition. While Rutgers signee Dylan Harper surely stole the spotlight with his stunning 30-point game, another Rutgers star also wowed the crowd at the Barclays Center.
The five-star recruit who is currently riding the wave of popularity for her performance is McMiller. Just a year ago, Michael Jordan‘s daughter Jasmine Jordan brought her into the Jordan Brand family. Here is more about the star athlete.
Kiyomi McMiller made history with her NIL deal with Jordan Brand
Back when Jasmine joined the Jordan Brand, she aimed to promote diversity, starting with building a women’s roster. In line with this spirit, Jordan Brand announced its NIL deal with the 16-year-old basketball player McMiller. And that makes her the youngest high school athlete to sign a NIL deal with the Brand. Much credit goes to Jasmine for pursuing the young talent for over a year. The first NIL athlete of the brand was UCLA star guard Kiki Rice who signed the deal in October 2022.
About her historic deal, McMiller said, “It’s a dream come true being with the brand that stands for the same passion that I have for the game,” in a press release.
After Silver Springs, Maryland, the 17-year-old played at the Life Center Academy in Burlington, New Jersey. She has shown her prowess by averaging 29.5 points, and 5.9 rebounds in the 11 games she has played in this season.
Named the No. 22 player in the nation by ESPN, she will continue to hone her skills in the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. She ranks among the top recruits to join the Scarlet Knights since head coach Coquese Washington took over the program. And she has shown her best during her participation in the Jordan Classic Brand.
Kiyomi McMiller shines bright at the Jordan Brand Classic with her unmatched skills
The showcase of skills in the elite event this year was no different. While top prospect Duke’s Cooper Flagg was phenomenal in men’s games, McMiller also showed a one-off performance helping the Team Flight clinch a win. She was effortlessly one of the best on the roster. One of the X posts about her game wrote, “New Jersey’s own put on a show in Brooklyn. Kiyomi McMiller’s bag is one of one 🤧 @jumpman23 @Kiyomi_McMiller.” No wonder she is one of the best ball handlers in her recruiting class.
McMiller has exceptional skills and not to forget the impressive network of people to gain knowledge of the game. McMiller’s parents Mike and Ravilia McMiller were the first to notice her talent when she was a child. Both her parents were coaches at Montgomery College. Her mother also played at Mount Saint Mary’s. Another member of her athletic family is Ashley Simmons who played for Loyola Maryland. Clearly, the sport runs in their blood.
“I’m inspired by both of my parents. I get my creativity from my dad and my grandmother, which carries over to my dribbling,” “I’m always in the gym with my mom and dad working on my game,” McMiller said in an interview with Essence.
Previously called the Capital Classic, it was rebranded as the Jordan Brand Classic in 2002. Since then, we have seen numerous stars such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant play in the event and make a place for themselves in the pro leagues. A Forbes article emphasized the importance of the event and its impact on pro leagues and Nike sales. Sharing the article link on her Instagram, the Chicago Bulls legend’s daughter Jasmine wrote, “Jordan Brand congrats. Easily the best High School All-Star Game I’ve seen in years. Kids were really trying to compete.”
The Jordan Brand currently has deals with the most impressive women’s roster and some of those are sure to be game-changers in the WNBA. We might see another roster of spectacular talent such as McMiller elevate the sport in the pro league.