Miller sacrifices scoring to help Huntley

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SCHAUMBURG – Troy Miller’s numbers differ only slightly from those of last basketball season.

In fact, the Huntley point guard’s shooting percentages and his scoring average are down a bit, even though the Red Raiders’ other top scorers from 2010-11, Tyler Brunschon and Dylan Neukirch, graduated.

Huntley coach Marty Manning does not look at any of that in a negative light. To the contrary, he appreciates everything the 6-foot senior is doing for the 14-1 Raiders.

Miller will lead Huntley against Elgin (15-1) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the first game of the 15th annual High School Hoops Showdown at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. The rematch of an IHSA Class 4A Jacobs Sectional semifinal last season is the first of three games. Manning and Miller attended a news conference with other participating coaches and players Tuesday at Lou Malnati’s restaurant to promote the Showdown.

“It would be very easy to tweak our offense to let [Miller] get five more shots a game, and he probably would be averaging 17 or 18 points a game,” Manning said. “But I don’t think that’s in the best interest of our team. I always think a balanced team is more difficult to defend. He’s sacrificing his scoring because it’s in the best interest of our team. I don’t think of him scoring less [means he is] being less of a player, it’s being more of a player.”

Miller, whose scoring average of 11.6 a game is slightly down from last year’s 12.3, still is one of the area’s most dangerous shooters, hitting 39.1 percent on three-pointers. But he graciously defers to 6-61⁄2 sophomore Amanze Egekeze, 6-3 forward Justin Frederick or 6-1 guard Bryce Only while judiciously picking his spots to shoot.

“It’s more about the wins and whoever is hot should get the ball,” Miller said. “My defense, last year, wasn’t that good. I’m trying to work on that and be more of an all-around player instead of just a shooter.”

Neukirch often took over some of the ballhandling responsibilities last season and got the Raiders into their offense from the point. Those duties fall to Miller now, and he relishes the role.

“I’ve played point guard all my life, but there’s a lot more pressure on the varsity level,” Miller said. “I like having the ball in my hands so I can make the decisions and know who to get the ball to.”

Shooting percentages notwithstanding, Manning said Miller has raised his game overall.

“Even in the last three weeks, he’s gotten better defensively,” Manning said. “A lot of that could be [assistant] coach [Bill] Wandro getting on him every day at practice and not letting him get complacent. More importantly, his leadership and maturity with being willing to change his role has been great. No one wants to give up a chance to shoot 15 times a game and be the leading scorer.”

One confounding number is Miller’s free-throw percentage (65.5). Miller was deadly last year at 88.3 percent, which was second in the area. He has four teammates shooting better from the line.

“I make them all in practice,” Miller said. “I started off bad and I just couldn’t get it going. Hopefully, now I don’t worry about my percentage and just shoot them and they’ll go in if it’s a pressure situation.”