Miller to blaze new trail at Vincennes University

Sunday, June 5, 2022
South Putnam graduate Brie Miller will be charting a new course with Vincennes University’s women’s basketball program starting in the 2022-23 school year. With Miller at the signing were (left to right) mother Erin and South Putnam girls’ basketball head coach Brian Gardner.
Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Finding the right combination of academics and athletics at the collegiate level can sometimes be difficult.

Brie Miller had the academic part down but the athletic part was a bit more up in the air until late in the school year.

The South Putnam graduate was able to tie both together in the end, opting to continue her basketball playing days at Vincennes University starting in the 2022-23 school year.

“(Vincennes) has a good program that I want to major in, which is construction,” Miller said. “It’s a small school and I liked the idea of a small school.

“I’ve heard it’s a pretty good program at a school where you get a lot of 1-on-1 time with teachers. The environment is good, it’s not in the city and it’s a nice fit.”

Miller, who will look to study construction technology before transferring in two years, said she was uncertain she would get the chance to keep playing until conversing with the Trailblazer coaching staff.

“I’ve always loved basketball but I didn’t think I was going to be able to play down there,” Miller said. “I went down, talked to (Vincennes head coach Harry Meeks) and made connections.

“I wanted to play basketball but also really wanted to go to Vincennes, so I talked to people and they also wanted me.”

Vincennes, which finished 20-9 in the 2021-22 season, will be losing its top three rebounders, an area Miller will help fill as she continues her work in the post.

“I went down and practiced with the girls and things felt right,” Miller said. “(Vincennes) has a lot of goals that I really liked as a program.”

While not a large school, Miller said it would take some time to get used to being in a far larger institution.

“Obviously there’s more students down there as there’s around 2,000 kids who attend Vincennes,” Miller said. “Living by yourself is going to be harder because of its college.

“Academically and athletically it’s going to be tougher. There’s all new people to meet as I don’t know anyone down there so I’ll go down there and make new friends.”

With school starting in just a few months, Miller said she was eager to get started with the Trailblazers.

“I’m pretty excited and excited to get the opportunity to play with them,” Miller said. “I want to prove myself and I’m excited to move on from high school to Vincennes.”