West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

6'7" Forward Aiden Miller, Point Park. Transferring to WLU. Miller will be a Sophomore with three years of eligibility.

That puts us at 12 roster players. Doesn't mean we won't bring in anyone else but recent history says we won't.

[Scrub]

6'7" Forward Aiden Miller, Point Park. Transferring to WLU. Miller will be a Sophomore with three years of eligibility.

That puts us at 12 roster players. Doesn't mean we won't bring in anyone else but recent history says we won't.

Is it bad that I watched both WLU games with Point Park this past season and don't remember that kid one iota?

[Columbuseer]

Is it bad that I watched both WLU games with Point Park this past season and don't remember that kid one iota?

I do not think it is bad. He was likely in a guard dominant system that did not fit his skill set.

He had to pass the open gym eye test at wlu.

6-8 210 lbs frosh from Austin tx.
9.8 ppg, 28 min per game, 37% 3fg on limited attempts, and 9 rebounds per game ar point park.

[boatcapt]

I do not think it is bad. He was likely in a guard dominant system that did not fit his skill set.

He had to pass the open gym eye test at wlu.

6-8 210 lbs frosh from Austin tx.
9.8 ppg, 28 min per game, 37% 3fg on limited attempts, and 9 rebounds per game ar point park.

The positive is that he is a big who is an underclassmen so will be here after next season...unless he transfers again!

He was compitent last season but far from a team star for Point Park. Good rebounder, will take 3's and hit a decent rate but again, far from what we would call a "3 point assassin." If we get 15-20 min a game, 10 points off mostly put backs (plus 50-60 3 point shots on the season and .290), 7 rebounds per game and solid defense on our opponents big, I'd call that a success.

[Columbuseer]

According to his X, 6-8 G/F Reece Hagy has committed to WLU.
He spent last year at Air Force Academy and played on their prep team to prepare him for rigors of d1 basketball and the AFA.

In 2024 he played at prestigious miller school in VA, where he was 2nd team all state in private school category.
Good shooter, rebounder and assists.

[boatcapt]

According to his X, 6-8 G/F Reece Hagy has committed to WLU.
He spent last year at Air Force Academy and played on their prep team to prepare him for rigors of d1 basketball and the AFA.

In 2024 he played at prestigious miller school in VA, where he was 2nd team all state in private school category.
Good shooter, rebounder and assists.

Clearly, Ben has decided we need bigs!

As a now retired AF veteran, I would quibble with your description of Air Force Prep preparing him for the rigors of d1 basketball. On the hierarchy of what AF Prep does, preparing students to play D1 sports is FAR down the list. It AIN'T the IMG Academy!!

Interesting...Hagy was shown as an AF Academy commit in 2024...The actual Academy, not AF Prep where he ended up going. As anyone who went to a service academy as an athlete will tell you, the recruiting and admission standards are FAR more rigorous than a "normal" college athletic program. Also worth noting that 75-80 percent of AF Prep graduates end-up getting appointments to the AF Academy. So he is a pretty rare bird...an AF Academy commit who didn't go AND an AF Prep graduate that didn't go to the AF Academy. We'll probably never know the reason he didn't end up going to the AF Academy, it is still a very interesting situation.

[Columbuseer]

Clearly, Ben has decided we need bigs!

As a now retired AF veteran, I would quibble with your description of Air Force Prep preparing him for the rigors of d1 basketball. On the hierarchy of what AF Prep does, preparing students to play D1 sports is FAR down the list. It AIN'T the IMG Academy!!

Interesting...Hagy was shown as an AF Academy commit in 2024...The actual Academy, not AF Prep where he ended up going. As anyone who went to a service academy as an athlete will tell you, the recruiting and admission standards are FAR more rigorous than a "normal" college athletic program. Also worth noting that 75-80 percent of AF Prep graduates end-up getting appointments to the AF Academy. So he is a pretty rare bird...an AF Academy commit who didn't go AND an AF Prep graduate that didn't go to the AF Academy. We'll probably never know the reason he didn't end up going to the AF Academy, it is still a very interesting situation.

FYI. The description is copied from afa prep website, so your quibble is best directed toward them.
AFA has very high admission standards ( I have 3 AFA grads as in laws, two are F16 pilots).
It is like getting an ivy league quality education too .

[boatcapt]

FYI. The description is copied from afa prep website, so your quibble is best directed toward them.
AFA has very high admission standards ( I have 3 AFA grads as in laws, two are F16 pilots).
It is like getting an ivy league quality education too .

AF Preparatory was put in place to prepare students for the rigors of the Air Force Academy, full stop. Do they have athletic teams and does playing on one of them better prepare one to play at the college level? Yes it does. But unlike an IMG Academy, preparing the player to get a college athletic scholarship is not the primary focus. Sixty percent of AF Prep students do not participate on one of the Prep athletic teams...THREE percent of IMG students do not participate in one of the IMG's many athletic teams.

Yes, the education a Cadet Candidate gets at AF Prep is above top notch but again, it is geared at preparing the student for the academic rigors of the AF Academy. AF Prep is not accredited and college credits are not awarded for any AF Prep course completed. As with athletics, completion of the academic instruction at AF Prep would more than prepare a graduate for the rigors of almost ANY D1 (or otherwise) college.

Yes, AF Academy admission standards are through the roof, as they should be. The AF Academy actually admits about 1400 Cadets each year. The vast majority come through congressional or VP nomination while the Academy Superintendent can nominate 50. Getting a nomination from a member of Congress to the AF Academy is among the most competitive processes in the nation!!

But circling back to this kid, I just find it interesting that after going through the process of getting recruited (and getting nominated to attend) and committing to the AF Academy, and then attending and completing (presumably) the 10 month AF Prep program were 85% go to the AF Academy, this guy walked and ended up on the Hilltop. Could be as simple as military life isn't for everyone...Hundreds of good people leave military service every day for just that reason.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
full game video:
reece hagy vs south mountain community college Jan 27 2025.
https://athletics.southmountaincc.ed...20250127hof0ft

hagy's Highlights Aug 2023 at miller school
https://youtu.be/uON2LhGsEog?feature=shared

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
parker day 24-25 season highlights at emporia state.
https://x.com/ParkerDay07/status/1908288435044979073

[boatcapt]

Fyi
full game video:
reece hagy vs south mountain community college Jan 27 2025.
https://athletics.southmountaincc.ed...20250127hof0ft

hagy's Highlights Aug 2023 at miller school
https://youtu.be/uON2LhGsEog?feature=shared

Looks very good on film and his resume is good too. If he shoots like his video and stats say he can, he'll be in the regular rotation which is a good thing. While he hasn't technically used his redshirt, he has had one year of "college level development" and should be ready to go.

Same with Day but more so. As a one season rental, he needs to produce from the opening tip. His skill set is different than Hagy, but no less important. .

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
some highlights from aiden miller in 2024 aau games. He played for elite bball prep school that played against likes of IMG. Very versatile, strong, aggressive with guard/wing skills. Has great potential.


Aiden Miller's Men's Basketball Recruiting Profile

Some highlights from 2024 aau

https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-bask...aiden-miller11

[Topper_Hopper]

Fyi
some highlights from aiden miller in 2024 aau games. He played for elite bball prep school that played against likes of IMG. Very versatile, strong, aggressive with guard/wing skills. Has great potential.


Aiden Miller's Men's Basketball Recruiting Profile

Some highlights from 2024 aau

https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-bask...aiden-miller11

Thanks for finding/posting this. Averaged 12ppg over the second half of the season as a freshman, so he's already proven that he can produce. Will be interesting to see how he fits into the WLU system. 44-119 from 3P (37%) is encouraging.