After a first-round victory against MacMurray College in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) tournament, Kevin Miller heard he and teammate Ahmad Smith had been named First-Team All-Conference.
When he heard the news, Miller said he remembered the words of NBA star LeBron James.
“When (LeBron James) wins his MVP’s or All-NBA awards, he brings his whole team up on stage and says ‘these guys do it just as hard as I do,’” Miller said. “Individual awards only mean so much, but knowing that we accomplished as a team and what we did was great.”
Miller said being named First-Team All-Conference was the motivation for him going into the SLIAC tournament.
“Just knowing that the conference thinks I am one of the best players in the conference (was great). But I just wanted to focus on winning the tournament, that was the main goal,” Miller said.
Since his return from a three-year hiatus from basketball while he attended Webster part-time, Miller has become a force on the team and underneath the basket. During the regular season, Miller led the team in rebounds with 218 and was second on the team in points-per-game with 14.6.
Two players earning First-Team All-Conference honors reflects positively on the team.
“It shows that we have a good program,” Chris Bunch said. “Obviously you have a good year when you have two guys make First-Team All-Conference. That doesn’t happen very often.”
Smith, led the team this season in points-per-game with 16.5. He is currently ten points away from reaching the 1,000 career-points mark.
Hollis Edwards received an SLIAC Honorable Mention and was named the SLIAC All-Defensive Team for the third year in a row. Edwards is Webster’s all-time leader in steals with 183.
For Miller, a sophomore, and Smith, a junior, the chance to earn another All-Conference honor is still on the table. However, for Edwards, a senior, the honorable mention and All-Defensive Team nods are additions to the final chapter that is his senior season.
Bunch said the honorable mention was “well deserved” for all of Edwards’ work on the court. Edwards was an “integral part” of what Webster basketball has accomplished this season, Bunch said.
“It was rewarding for me, knowing how hard Hollis has worked for four years, to see him get recognition for it,” Bunch said. “He’s worked about as hard as anyone that I have ever had.”
Share this post
