DAYTON’S SAM MILLER SUSPENDED FOR SEMESTER
Flyers forward out for fall semeter and has scholarship revoked.
Dayton Flyers men’s basketball player Sam Miller says he has been suspended from the Univer
sity of Dayton following an incident two weeks ago in the Greene County Jail.
In a statement his attorney sent to the Dayton Daily News, Miller, 20, said he is “incredibly sorry for
the incidents” and “accepts full responsibility for the negative way my actions reflect on the Univer
sity of Dayton, the Men’s Basketball program, and myself.”
Miller is accused of assaulting a fellow inmate July 30 in the Greene County Jail after an initial arrest for alleged disorderly conduct by intoxication and underage consumption at Caddy’s Taphouse in Beavercreek.
“The University has suspended me for one semester, a decision I have accepted without appeal. In addition, my scholarship has been revoked by the athletic depart
ment and, therefore, I will not be a part of the men’s basketball program at the University of Dayton this fall,” Miller said.
“It will definitely be a challenge being away from my teammates and the university that I love, but I understand this is a necessary consequence of my actions. I have sought counseling to better
understand myself and what led to my mistakes, and I will emerge from this a better person. Lastly, I would like to thank my family, teammates, and close friends who have been so supportive of me during this difficult time in my life,” Miller said. UD confirmed Miller’s schol
arship has been revoked for the year. That means Dayton has one scholarship open for the 2017-18 season. Division I teams can have 13 scholarship players.
In a statement, Dayton coach Anthony Grant said he is “proud of Sam for accepting responsibility for his actions and the consequences for them in such a public manner.”
“Our program has high expectations regarding the behavior,
character, and moral integrity of the individuals that comprise our team,” Grant said. “Sam’s actions fell very short of those expectations. It is my hope that he has taken the first steps in learning and maturing from this incident.”
“Right now, we think it’s best for Sam to focus on his personal well-being and address his future. He has to meet certain conditions set by the University to return to
school as a student, and if he pursues that, we will discuss his future with the basketball program at the appropriate time,” Grant said.
Miller appeared in 53 of 65 games the past two seasons, averaging 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds. Miller averaged 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds as a freshman.
Last season, he averaged 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds as a sophomore. Miller was one of five returning players who averaged double-figure minutes. A sixth, junior forward Ryan Mikesell, will miss the season after undergoing two hip surgeries.
With Miller out for at least the first semester and Mikesell out for the season, Dayton will have 11 scholarship players available when the season begins.
Six of those, including five true freshmen, have never played for Dayton. The other newcomer is redshirt freshman Kostas Antetokounmpo, who sat out last season as a NCAA partial qualifier but did practice with the team starting in January.