As students in Mason County return to school today following their summer break, one student in particular heads back to the classroom after an extremely busy, adventurous and exciting summer.

His travels began with a two-week trip to Italy and when Darius Miller returned to the United States, he kept on moving around the country, attending various camps while sharpening his basketball skills.

Miller, who was ranked as the 32nd best player in the nation by The Sporting News in their June 18 issue, is a versatile, multi-purpose player at 6-foot-7 and is currently up to an estimated 225 pounds, according to his father, Brian.

"He has worked very hard, he's competitive and does the things he is supposed to do," said Brian Miller about his son, who turned 17 in March. "He wants to be the very best he can be."

Miller appears well on his way to acheiving much-deserved All-American status in his final season as a Royal, largely due to playing against top-flight competition during the summer months.

Following the Italy venture, where his team took on junior national teams from the Soviet Union and the host country, Miller attended the NBA Camp in Virginia before heading to the Reebok Camp in Philadelphia. The next stop was the Harley-Davidson Classic in West Virginia, another Reebok sponsored camp in Las Vegas and the National AAU Tournament in Orlando, Fla.

The D1 Greyhounds were coached by Dwayne Barnes of West Virginia and featured several outstanding college prospects, including Ohio State-bound William Buford, a 6-4 shooting guard from Toledo, 6-11 Kenny Frease from Massillon, Ohio and a Xavier recruit, as well as 5-9 point guard Damon Butler, who is entering his senior year at North College Hill High in Cincinnati.

"It has been a fun experience this summer, playing with and against a lot of great players. All of my teammates are going to play Division I," said Miller. "We played against great competition and I have tried to work on all aspects of my game, especially getting stronger, defense and shooting the three-pointer."

Miller expects to see some playing time at the next level at the shooting guard position, despite being an outstanding rebounder and shot-blocker and says his favorite players are Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, a pair of NBA All-Stars who know the value of being inside-outside threats.

The soft-spoken, respectful and polite young man is looking toward the future but also realizes he has business to take care of at Mason County High School before looking ahead too far.

"We want to win state this year," Miller says matter-of-factly, and with the core of returnees on the court at the Fieldhouse for the 2007-08 campaign, it is a realistic and attainable goal.

When the subject of earning Mr. Basketball honors and following in the footsteps of former Royal standout Chris Lofton, the 2002 honoree, Miller's response is, "I'm not really focused on that."

What Miller is focused on is making his teammates better and doing whatever it takes to make the Royals successful, as they take on a strenuous schedule to prepare for March.

"It will be good for us to take on the best teams in the state and we have always played a tough schedule," Miller said.

He credits his parents, Brian and Nicole, with being his primary inspirations, along with various coaches he has had while growing up.

"My dad taught me everything I know, my mom has always been there for me and they mean a lot to me," said Miller. "Coach Chris O'Hearn is a great coach and person and we have always had a good relationship. He has coached me since middle school and he's tried to get my name out there and he has helped me a lot."

What about that big decision, the one where he announces where he will attend college?

That is the question many basketball fanatics want to have answered and Miller is taking his time before deciding and declaring where he will play at the next level.

"I have it down to Kentucky, Louisville, Illinois, Miami (Fla.), Texas and Tennessee right now," Miller said. "I'm planning on making five official visits and announcing before we start the season, probably sometime in November."

Miller says he likes new UK coach Billy Gillispie but he also likes coaches at the other schools he has listed as finalists as well.

"Factors on choosing which school I will go to are my relationship with the coaches, their style of play and I'll be looking at who they have coming back too," said Miller about some of the reasons that will affect his decision.

Wherever Miller decides to go to college, there can be no doubt they will not only be getting an outstanding basketball player, but just as importantly, a quality young man.

"Darius is a very humble, good kid and he's always been like that," added Brian Miller. "We have been blessed to have a son like him and his character says it all."