Jrue Miller’s Breakout Season Puts Rowland Hall on the Map
(This is a follow up to an earlier article that was posted in December of 2025)
Coach Zack Alvidrez watches Jrue Miller attack the basket in an early season game. (Photo courtesy of Rowland Hall athletics)
In the often-overlooked landscape of 2A high school basketball, a quiet revolution unfolded this season at Rowland Hall. Leading it was Jrue Miller, a 17-year-old sophomore guard who, just weeks before the season opener, had never played a minute of varsity basketball. By season’s end, he had finished second in the entire state of Utah in scoring at 24.7 points per game and led the Winged Lions to a 19–8 record.
Miller’s impact was immediate. In his first two varsity games, he exploded for 42 and 41 points. He followed those performances with 28, 23, and 21 points, cementing himself as the state’s early-season breakout star. Regardless of classification, no one in Utah was scoring the ball like Jrue Miller–a staggering accomplishment for someone experiencing high school varsity basketball for the first time.
What looked like a hot streak turned into something much more sustained. Miller maintained his elite production from November through February, finishing first in the state in total three-pointers made with 101 and first in three-pointers per game at 3.9. He ranked 19th in the state in steals at 2.6 per game. For a sophomore carrying that kind of load on a young roster, the consistency was impressive.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Miller isn’t simply a high-volume shooter. Early in the season, his efficiency jumped off the stat sheet–his shooting splits of 50% from the field, 45% from three, and 80% at the free throw line placed him within striking distance of the exclusive 50–40–90 club. As the season wore on and defenses keyed in on him, those numbers naturally came down–he finished at 40% from the field, 33% from three, and 77% at the line–but consider the context: Miller was the primary focus of every opponent’s scouting report, and he still finished third in the state in scoring. The early-season splits showed his ceiling. The final numbers showed his toughness.
According to MaxPreps, Miller led the Winged Lions in points (25.6 per game), assists (3.0 per game), and steals (3.0 per game)–the kind of stat line that defines a complete player. His ability to score at all three levels while impacting the game beyond points made him the engine that drove everything Rowland Hall did this season.
Head coach Zack Alvidrez, who has coached Miller since age 15 in the Team Utah AAU system, says the sophomore’s success is built on consistency and character.
“He’s the hardest worker on the team,” Alvidrez says. “His competitive spirit is contagious–it elevates everyone. And he’s doing all this while leading us in assists and nearly every major category.”
Built on Trust and Relentless Work
Miller traces his rapid varsity transition back to the foundation he built long before arriving at Rowland Hall. He began playing around age nine, then sharpened his skills in the competitive environment of Team Utah. That AAU experience established a deep connection with Coach Alvidrez, making the jump to high school feel natural.
It’s also a family pursuit. Jrue’s brother, Jevin, a freshman for the Winged Lions, trains with him daily.
“We knew we were smaller guys,” Jrue says. “So we hit the weight room, got our shots up after school, and pushed each other to get stronger.”
When studying the game, Miller gravitates toward NBA guard Cade Cunningham, admiring his ability to score at all three levels and impact the game beyond points.
Leadership Beyond the Arc
Despite his scoring fame, Miller’s focus remains team-oriented. He studies film not to celebrate his makes but to dissect mistakes, improve leadership, and strengthen team chemistry.
“My main thing is to get my team involved early,” he says. “When I open things up for them, it opens things up for me.”
That unselfish approach paid dividends over a full season. Rowland Hall finished 19–8 overall and 7–2 in Region 17, good for second place behind American Leadership Academy, which went undefeated at 8–0 in region play. For a team that started the year with so many unknowns, that record exceeded expectations and announced Rowland Hall as a legitimate contender in the 2A landscape.
Serious About School. Serious About the Future
Miller chose Rowland Hall in part for its academic rigor. He thrives in math and is leaning toward engineering—a sign of his thoughtful, plan-first personality. That mindset extends to his basketball future.
Jrue envisions beginning his college career at the junior college level, developing physically and athletically before transferring to a Division I or Division II program. It’s a modern, realistic approach–and one that fits his long-term trajectory.
A Young Core Ready to Rise
What makes Rowland Hall’s 19-win season even more remarkable is just how young this roster was. Miller was far from the only underclassman making major contributions, and the returning talent should have Winged Lions fans excited about what’s ahead.
Jevin Miller averaged over 11 points per game as a freshman and finished as the team’s third-leading scorer. The Miller brothers gave Rowland Hall a dynamic backcourt combination that opponents struggled to contain all season, and both will be back.
Forward Jimmy Cashiola, the team’s second-leading rebounder, returns to give the Winged Lions a presence inside. Ollie Wakefield also comes back after a season in which he averaged just under 8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game–the kind of reliable two-way production that winning teams depend on from their supporting cast.
With that core returning–a year older, and a year stronger–Rowland Hall will be positioned to challenge for the top spot in Region 17 and make a deeper run in the 2A State Tournament. Jrue Miller will enter his junior season as one of the most proven scorers in the state. Jevin Miller will be a sophomore with a full varsity season already behind him. Cashiola and Wakefield will bring the kind of battle-tested toughness that comes from experience.
The Verdict
The 2025–26 season was a statement year for Rowland Hall basketball. What this group accomplished as a young team–19 wins, a second-place region finish, and a sophomore who finished third in the state in scoring with over 100 three-pointers–sets the stage for something even bigger.
When Jrue Miller stepped onto the court for his first varsity game and poured in 42 points, it raised a question: How long can Utah’s newest scoring sensation maintain this pace? He answered it. All season long.
The Winged Lions are not just building. They have arrived. And the best may still be ahead.