University of Minnesota Athletics
A Homegrown Star: Freshman Guard Miles Webb
1/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
You might remember seeing him in a highlight during a recap of the high school games on a local news channel the past four years. Chances are, and they are pretty good, that Miles Webb was the highlight. Playing for Park Center High School and coach Lionel Jones, the 6'3" Webb blossomed into one of the best high school players in the state. Even though his team never made it out of the tough Section Five in the Minnesota State 4AAAA tournament, Webb still put on a show, averaging over 19 points and six rebounds per game his senior season. Along with his impressive stats, Webb has an equal number of credentials. He was named all-conference his final three years, and his senior season Street & Smith `s named him an honorable mention All-American, as well as being a Minnesota Mr. Basketball finalist from the Star Tribune. One game during Webb's sophomore year, he set school records with 42 points and eight treys against Champlin Park. With games like that, Webb became Park Center's all-time leading scorer. Like many players, Webb's basketball did not stop after the high school season ended. He kept on playing in summer leagues and on AAU teams. While playing for the Minnesota Magic, an elite AAU team coached by current Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders, he became good friends with teammates and developed a great feel for where his teammates would be and their styles of play, which included current Gopher teammates Spencer Tollackson and Ryan Saunders. It was with these players that he made a special connection that would lead to him playing with the University of Minnesota.
Webb had a variety of major Division I schools recruiting him since he was a sophomore in high school including Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Marquette, Kansas State, Purdue, and of course the Gophers. Even though all of these schools were courting Webb, he knew that there was only one choice in his heart, and that was the University of Minnesota. "I really liked the program, and I'm from here so it was just like home. I really wanted to play in front of my family, because that was important to me." Webb said.
Even head coach Dan Monson knew that Webb was a player that his Gophers team needed to succeed. "Miles is a very good shooter and the name of the game is to put the ball in the basket. I think that is the biggest strength he brings is that he can shoot with anybody." Monson said.
However, Webb wasn't a real hard sell to join the team. He wanted to go here so badly that he orally committed, along with fellow freshman Tollackson, after his sophomore year. "He (Tollackson) committed first and then Spencer called me and asked me if I wanted to do it. We had a few meetings with Coach Monson and we decided to make the move over here and continue playing together," Webb said.
The fact that Webb's father, Phillip, walked on for the Gophers in 1975 was just another factor in his decision to sign with the Gophers, but more importantly it was that family is very important to him and he didn't want to be far from them.
Having a lot of family in the Twin Cites area, it was a hard thing to be away from, especially his father. "He has been the most influential person in my life. He was the one who put the ball in my hand and gave me the support I needed to be where I am today." Webb has considerable family in the area including two younger siblings, Reeva, 16, and Phillis, 10, all of whom he hopes can come see him play at Williams arena. His love for his family and easygoing personality carries over into his love for comedies and sitcoms including In Living Color and the Dave Chappelle Show as well as hanging out with his friends and roommates, Tollackson, Saunders, and Rico Tucker. It is from this nucleus that Webb gets his nickname "Hermit."
Tollackson laughs, "We never see him, he just chills in his room all day, usually talking on the phone or watching T.V."
Contrary to what his roommates might say, Webb does get out of his room to work on his game, much like he did this summer.
Besides playing in many summer leagues and on an AAU team that took third in the National AAU tournament, Webb was working on getting stronger through a very difficult weight training program this summer, along with shooting at least three different times a day. Shooting has been a forté in his portfolio and is just one of the skills he has been working on. He knows that there is a lot more work to be done. "Everybody is a lot stronger, quicker and everything is a step up," Webb commented. "I need to work on getting quicker feet and getting stronger because there is a big difference in the transition from high school to the Big Ten."
Coach Monson agrees with Miles assessment. "Right now he is in the learning process, as many freshman are, and he is just trying to get better in a lot of different areas," Monson said. "I think he is in the process of understanding Division I basketball and trying to bring every part of his game to the level that needs to be here."
Monson and his players have great expectations for the team and for Webb this year and in the years to come. "Miles is such a good shooter, and he brings a great presence defensively," Tollackson said. "He can play tough defense against all the guards. He is one of those guys that is kind of quiet and will get a some of offensive rebounds, or a rebound dunk."
Webb plainly states the facts that this is a good group of players and that they all have high expectations and goals. "So far, we have taken a couple of losses that we could have won in Alabama and Florida State. Other than that, we are doing real well and progressing to a spot where we want to be," Webb said. "Our goal is to make it to the NCAA Tournament and do well in the Big Ten Tournament. We are improving every day and I just try to help out however I can."
Playing as tough and as united as they have so far, it is not as much a lofty goal as it was before the season started with the high number of newcomers on the Minnesota roster. However, the main focus for Webb and the rest of his teammates is to improve but as a freshman new to the college game it is even more important for him. "I really want to help the team on the court and hopefully in the future I can get the chance to get on the court and help the team," Webb said.
His teammates feel that Webb is a great player who can help this team out a lot when he is put on the court because he brings so many different skills to the team. "If he keeps working hard like he is, he'll be a very good player here," Tollackson said. "He'll be one of those guys that can come in and play good defense and hit some big shots and threes. I expect a lot out of him."
There can be large adjustment when moving from high school to the college ranks athletically and academically. Webb knows that and although he doesn't know what he wants to focus his studies on yet, he knows he will put forth just as much effort in the classroom as he does on the court.
With this Gopher team only losing three seniors after this season, the future looks bright for a team with a corps of younger players getting a chance to play this year and gain the experience necessary to compete at the Big Ten level. And if the team can keep improving and gelling at the pace they are now, this Gopher team that Webb calls "Tough and Scrappy", will be a force to be reckoned with.
story by Chris Jensen, athletic communications student assistant
You might remember seeing him in a highlight during a recap of the high school games on a local news channel the past four years. Chances are, and they are pretty good, that Miles Webb was the highlight. Playing for Park Center High School and coach Lionel Jones, the 6'3" Webb blossomed into one of the best high school players in the state. Even though his team never made it out of the tough Section Five in the Minnesota State 4AAAA tournament, Webb still put on a show, averaging over 19 points and six rebounds per game his senior season. Along with his impressive stats, Webb has an equal number of credentials. He was named all-conference his final three years, and his senior season Street & Smith `s named him an honorable mention All-American, as well as being a Minnesota Mr. Basketball finalist from the Star Tribune. One game during Webb's sophomore year, he set school records with 42 points and eight treys against Champlin Park. With games like that, Webb became Park Center's all-time leading scorer. Like many players, Webb's basketball did not stop after the high school season ended. He kept on playing in summer leagues and on AAU teams. While playing for the Minnesota Magic, an elite AAU team coached by current Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders, he became good friends with teammates and developed a great feel for where his teammates would be and their styles of play, which included current Gopher teammates Spencer Tollackson and Ryan Saunders. It was with these players that he made a special connection that would lead to him playing with the University of Minnesota.
Webb had a variety of major Division I schools recruiting him since he was a sophomore in high school including Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Marquette, Kansas State, Purdue, and of course the Gophers. Even though all of these schools were courting Webb, he knew that there was only one choice in his heart, and that was the University of Minnesota. "I really liked the program, and I'm from here so it was just like home. I really wanted to play in front of my family, because that was important to me." Webb said.
Even head coach Dan Monson knew that Webb was a player that his Gophers team needed to succeed. "Miles is a very good shooter and the name of the game is to put the ball in the basket. I think that is the biggest strength he brings is that he can shoot with anybody." Monson said.
However, Webb wasn't a real hard sell to join the team. He wanted to go here so badly that he orally committed, along with fellow freshman Tollackson, after his sophomore year. "He (Tollackson) committed first and then Spencer called me and asked me if I wanted to do it. We had a few meetings with Coach Monson and we decided to make the move over here and continue playing together," Webb said.
The fact that Webb's father, Phillip, walked on for the Gophers in 1975 was just another factor in his decision to sign with the Gophers, but more importantly it was that family is very important to him and he didn't want to be far from them.
Having a lot of family in the Twin Cites area, it was a hard thing to be away from, especially his father. "He has been the most influential person in my life. He was the one who put the ball in my hand and gave me the support I needed to be where I am today." Webb has considerable family in the area including two younger siblings, Reeva, 16, and Phillis, 10, all of whom he hopes can come see him play at Williams arena. His love for his family and easygoing personality carries over into his love for comedies and sitcoms including In Living Color and the Dave Chappelle Show as well as hanging out with his friends and roommates, Tollackson, Saunders, and Rico Tucker. It is from this nucleus that Webb gets his nickname "Hermit."
Tollackson laughs, "We never see him, he just chills in his room all day, usually talking on the phone or watching T.V."
Contrary to what his roommates might say, Webb does get out of his room to work on his game, much like he did this summer.
Besides playing in many summer leagues and on an AAU team that took third in the National AAU tournament, Webb was working on getting stronger through a very difficult weight training program this summer, along with shooting at least three different times a day. Shooting has been a forté in his portfolio and is just one of the skills he has been working on. He knows that there is a lot more work to be done. "Everybody is a lot stronger, quicker and everything is a step up," Webb commented. "I need to work on getting quicker feet and getting stronger because there is a big difference in the transition from high school to the Big Ten."
Coach Monson agrees with Miles assessment. "Right now he is in the learning process, as many freshman are, and he is just trying to get better in a lot of different areas," Monson said. "I think he is in the process of understanding Division I basketball and trying to bring every part of his game to the level that needs to be here."
Monson and his players have great expectations for the team and for Webb this year and in the years to come. "Miles is such a good shooter, and he brings a great presence defensively," Tollackson said. "He can play tough defense against all the guards. He is one of those guys that is kind of quiet and will get a some of offensive rebounds, or a rebound dunk."
Webb plainly states the facts that this is a good group of players and that they all have high expectations and goals. "So far, we have taken a couple of losses that we could have won in Alabama and Florida State. Other than that, we are doing real well and progressing to a spot where we want to be," Webb said. "Our goal is to make it to the NCAA Tournament and do well in the Big Ten Tournament. We are improving every day and I just try to help out however I can."
Playing as tough and as united as they have so far, it is not as much a lofty goal as it was before the season started with the high number of newcomers on the Minnesota roster. However, the main focus for Webb and the rest of his teammates is to improve but as a freshman new to the college game it is even more important for him. "I really want to help the team on the court and hopefully in the future I can get the chance to get on the court and help the team," Webb said.
His teammates feel that Webb is a great player who can help this team out a lot when he is put on the court because he brings so many different skills to the team. "If he keeps working hard like he is, he'll be a very good player here," Tollackson said. "He'll be one of those guys that can come in and play good defense and hit some big shots and threes. I expect a lot out of him."
There can be large adjustment when moving from high school to the college ranks athletically and academically. Webb knows that and although he doesn't know what he wants to focus his studies on yet, he knows he will put forth just as much effort in the classroom as he does on the court.
With this Gopher team only losing three seniors after this season, the future looks bright for a team with a corps of younger players getting a chance to play this year and gain the experience necessary to compete at the Big Ten level. And if the team can keep improving and gelling at the pace they are now, this Gopher team that Webb calls "Tough and Scrappy", will be a force to be reckoned with.
story by Chris Jensen, athletic communications student assistant
