Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls basketball guard Kiyara Miller signed a national letter of intent Wednesday in the JDHS gym to play basketball for the Pirates of Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington.
“I decided to go to Peninsula because I wanted to continue playing basketball,” Miller said. “They offered me a spot on their team, and I looked into their school. They are a very defensive team, and I love defense.”
Peninsula is a two-year community college in the Northwest Athletic Conference. The conference, with four competing regions, has 36 community colleges located in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
“I am bringing my lockdown defense,” Miller said. “And my loud voice on the court.”
Miller said her advice for young players is: “Just follow your dreams, play hard and don’t give up. That’s what I did.”
Miller averaged nearly two steals, three deflections, two assists and two rebounds per game last season. Her mark on the game was in floor presence and reliability.
“I think she is going to be bringing to the table a ton of heart and hustle,” JDHS head coach Tanya Nizich said. “Tenacious on defense. That was one of our key factors that she brought to each and every one of our games. She is a player that goes full-bore every single second up and down the floor playing defense. You can’t make somebody want to do that, and Kiyara wants to do that. Every game she asked to guard the opposing team’s toughest player. I’m so proud of her. She worked hard and deserves this. A lot of time hard work can go unrecognized but Kiyara never wavered.”
Peninsula College associate head coach Gabi Fenumiai said: “Alaska has a lot of good student/athletes to offer so I always keep tabs on my home state and it is even better if I am able to tap into the hometown resources.”
Fenumiai, a 2013 JDHS graduate, is a 2015 alum of Peninsula and started coaching there in 2019. She holds multiple rebounding and defensive records there. Her sister Nicole is on the JDHS coaching staff.
“Kiyara was one of the names the coaching staff gave me.” she said. “Kiyara has a lot of heart, she loves defense and our team is a defensive identity team and it is rare to find kids that love defense as much if not more than they love offense.”
Also noted was Miller’s dedication to school. She plans to study elementary education and hopes to become an elementary school teacher.
The Pirates have several Alaskans on their roster, including Barrow’s Jenilee Donovan, Eagle River’s Chasity Selden, and Anchorage’s Eden Hopson, Sunny Pedebone and Lupe’lani Vaaia. Along with Miller, Colony’s Lainey Suaava and Fairbanks’ Amy Pilon are incoming Alaskans.
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kiyara Miller, joined by parents Myron Speller and Laura Cordero in the JDHS gymnasium on Wednesday, holds up her letter of intent to play basketball at Peninsula College. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS teammates pose with Kiyara Miller on Wednesday after she signed to play basketball at Peninsula College. From left: Mila Hargrave, Rayna Tuckwood, Miller, Tatum Billings, Chloe Casperson, Carlynn Casperson and Ashley Laudert. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS assistant coach Nicole Fenumiai hugs JDHS senior Kiyara Miller as JDHS head coach Tanya Nizich looks on during Miller’s letter of intent signing on Wednesday to play basketball at Peninsula College. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Loved ones pose with Kiyara Miller on Wednesday after she signed to play basketball at Peninsula College. From left: Bodhi Nelson, Kitalia Miller, Karen Carlos, Kiyara Miller, Kiosiyan Miller, Laura Cordero, Myron Speller and Kimari Miller. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
