Basketball Tip
Presented by Lee Miller, Director
Elite Hoops Basketball Georgia State Invite Camp
Lee Miller Basketball Coach Spotlight: “Super Intense and Super Fun”
Lee Miller founded Elite Hoops Basketball, a longtime US Sports Camps partner and a storied program in the Southeast where some of the nation’s best players have leveled up their game. Starting with fewer than 30 players in 2004 and growing to more than 5,000 across dozens of camps, Elite Hoops Basketball focuses on improving fundamentals in a fun and motivating environment.
Miller says that as a coach, his goal is to make training “both super intense and super fun.” He looks for energy and effort in his players—and he and his coaching staff work hard to bring that same energy and effort to their work with campers each session!
Here’s more about how Miller got where he is today and the coaching philosophy he brings to camp.
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Journey to Coaching
Miller’s passion for basketball began early, when he fell in love with the game after playing neighborhood pickup ball in fourth grade.
He eventually got his start in the coaching world after a brief stint as a walk-on at the University of Georgia, when he stepped into the role of student assistant under then-UGA head coach Jim Harrick. This led him to work with later pros Jarvis Hayes and Damien Wilkins, as well as former Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk. Miller says that Coach Harrick was especially instrumental in teaching him not just how to coach the game, but how to take care of players.
In the years since, Miller’s coaching success has spanned the high school, club, and collegiate levels. He served as assistant coach at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, GA, and at South Gwinnett High School, where he helped lead the team to a state championship. Nine players from South Gwinnett went on to play in college, including Lou Williams, who later played 17 seasons in the NBA and was a three-time 6th Man of the Year. Miller went on to coach at Norcross High School, leading the team to a 5A state championship. There, he worked with Al-Farouq Aminu, an eighth-overall NBA draft pick, as well as Gani Lawal, who was drafted by the Phoenix Suns.
Miller also coached at Georgia State University, where he worked under Rod Barnes, the 2001 Naismith Coach of the Year. He then founded Elite Hoops Basketball, where he’s trained more than 100 players who have gone on to play at the Division I level. Notable players he’s coached at Elite Hoops include 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, 2014 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year Isaiah Wilkins, Malik Beasley, and Kobi Simmons.
Coaching Philosophy: “Get One Percent Better Each Day”
Now, as a coach, Miller’s philosophy is all about hard work. While skill is important, what he really looks for is will: how badly a player wants to succeed, and the obstacles they’re willing to overcome to get there. He’s always impressed by campers who try their best, even when it’s hard—and he works closely with players to hone this kind of stick-with-it attitude on and off the court.
Miller sees his job as helping each player become one percent better each day. At camp, this means focusing on really getting the reps in.
He guides campers through progressive training: for example, starting by working on a move individually, progressing to light defense, then to small-sided scrimmages, and finally to using the new skill in 5-on-5 games. Breaking down game footage also helps. Players can analyze how they’re moving during gameplay and brainstorm additional ways to improve.
Over the long haul, Miller has seen that this step-by-step, detail-oriented work really adds up. For him, there’s nothing better than watching a player’s game reach the next level once it finally all comes together!
In Miller’s words, he wants every camper to know that “through hard work, a consistent effort and a love for the game, they can truly become a great player.”
Learn More about Basketball Camp
Dive deeper into basketball camp with these resources.
Explore our Basketball Coach’s Corner, which features lots of tips for honing your game in the lead-up to camp
Learn how to determine which camp level is right for your young athlete
Check out our complete guide to basketball camp for parents
Ready to reserve your young athlete’s spot? Find a camp near you!