New Jersey native, Olivia Miles, had no idea she could play basketball that well until everyone pointed it out to her. Miles was in fifth grade when others recognized how talented she was at basketball. “People were just telling me that I had the ability,” Miles said. It was just a matter of time before the 5-foot-10 guard became one of the first freshmen (men’s and women’s) to post a triple-double in the NCAA Tournament, with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists.

The hard-working guard has always dedicated her skills to setting the tone for her team. “I come in every game saying I’m going to do X, Y and Z for the program. When I start off well when I control what I can control, I think it really helps our team,” Miles resonated. However, she sustained a knee injury in the ACC Tournament last year and ended up missing the post-season action. Now, set to make a comeback this year, Olivia Miles is going to make the most of it this time. So, let’s explore her outstanding athleticism.

Olivia Miles was a star in the making in high-school

Miles made her varsity basketball debut while playing for Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey. Her real skill was seen in her junior season, when she averaged 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game, leading her team to the Prep A state championship.

She also played with the Philadelphia Bellas on the AAU circuit, where she won the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League championship in June 2019. To broaden her profile, she also played soccer in high school, which subsequently helped Miles a lot with comprehending the on-court tactics during basketball games. Miles was also selected to the Jordan Brand Classic roster and was rated as a five-star recruit by ESPN.

Upon conclusion of her varsity basketball career, Olivia Miles had offers lined up from several college programs, within which she narrowed down her choices to Stanford, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. Finally, she ended up committing to play for the Fighting Irish.

On completion of her high school career, the poised playmaker had developed a strong scoring punch and handled and distributed the play with a smooth flair. By that time, Miles had also attained some rich quality international experience when she became a member of the 2019 USA U16 National team.

There she started in all 6 games while averaging 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists and led the USA to a 6-0 record and a gold medal in Puerto Aysen, Chile. Besides, she received several honors in high school including All-Mid Atlantic Prep League first team (2018, 19, and 20), All-State first team (2018, 19, and 20), the 2019 USA Today All-State second team, and the 2020 MaxPreps All-America third team.

She embarked on her collegiate journey

Miles opted for early enrollment in the program. As a result, she joined the Fighting Irish roster in January 2021. Instantly, Miles had made her presence felt as a freshman with her scoring and passing. As a result, she averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 assists after only six games of the season.

Miles had an outstanding 14 points and 14 assists in a win over Bryant in November 2021, falling just 3 assists short of setting the program’s single-game record. Miles joined Marina Mabrey as the only Notre Dame freshman to record a triple-double in a 73-56 victory over Valparaiso in early December 2021.

Her triple-double abilities, however, were not restricted to the regular season; she went on to become the first freshman to ever record a triple-double in the NCAA Tournament, with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in an 89-78 first-round victory over Massachusetts.

Before that, she scored a season-high 30 points against Boston College. As a freshman, Miles averaged 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, ranking second in NCAA Division I student-athlete assists behind Iowa legend Caitlin Clark. In addition, she was chosen for the All-ACC First Team.

Olivia Miles averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game as a sophomore, leading the ACC in assists. Miles eclipsed Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jackie Young in school history with her third triple-double of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists in a 108-44 win against Merrimack.

She delivered another key effort against Louisville, as she hit the game-winning shot and guided the Fighting Irish to a narrow 78-76 victory. Miles finished the game with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. Her sophomore season, however, ended just before the end of the regular season when she sustained a knee injury against Louisville in the ACC championship tournament. She was selected first-team All-ACC, second-team All-American by the Associated Press, and third-team All-American by the USBWA.

She also missed out on the 2023-24 season owing to her ACL injury. Now that she is back healthy on her feet, Notre Dame fans are in for a real treat.