Miles McBride’s WVU Takeover
On December 29th, 2019, Moeller grad Miles McBride ‘19, sank a floating dagger with 80 seconds left to put the West Virginia Mountaineers up for good over Ohio State. Commentator for Fox Sports One made the call, “Eight to shoot, McBride driving, underneath Wesson. Miles McBride with his coming out party!” McBride finished the game with 21 points against then #2 Ohio State.
McBride shrugs his shoulders as he sinks in a runner against #2 Ohio State. Photo by: Blue Gold News
Miles McBride has arrived. The Ohio State game put him on the map. The 6’2” freshman guard from Cincinnati, Ohio has always been a winner wherever he has played. At Archbishop Moeller, Miles was 59-1 as a starter with 2 state championships. Now at West Virginia under legendary collegiate coach Bob Huggins, McBride and company have a 19-9 record.
The addition of McBride and others has been important for West Virginia especially after a down year in the 2018-19 campaign missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014. With McBride, they have already eclipsed their win total from the previous season. But just how does a true freshman contribute to a now winning program? By being a team player.
McBride’s high school coach, Carl Kremer, isn’t surprised that he is doing well so far in college saying, “Miles is coachable, humble, a tremendous teammate, athletic, and unselfish. A lot of guys have exterior swagger, but that swagger may be a mile wide, but an inch deep. With Miles, it is the opposite, he truly believes in himself and that’s why he’s so good in big moments of the game.” Miles has already shown examples of how calm he is under the pressure. In his sixth collegiate game ever, Miles was put in a spot to perform at the right time, and he just did that. West Virginia was trailing Northern Iowa 46-33 with 8 minutes to go when Miles lead the Mountaineers to a 27-11 run, winning the game 60-55. McBride had 12 points in that 8-minute stretch with 2 clutch free throws to seal the game.
A month later, the Mountaineers had a good challenge before conference play started by playing #2 Ohio State. This game was a dog fight with many fouls adding up. West Virginia’s best big man, Oscar Tshiebwe, was in foul trouble early on and only ended up playing 8 minutes. Once Tshiebwe sat, McBride was the man running the offense scoring a season high at the time 21 points and a couple assists. West Virginia ended up upsetting the Buckeyes and McBride was now known by all of college basketball.
Moeller coach, Carl Kremer, watches McBride set up the offense. Photo by: Cincinnati Enquirer
McBride’s impact at West Virginia as a team leader, has inspired his former teammates in high school back in Cincinnati. Ryan Stacey, who played with McBride last year said,
“On the floor, Miles was a stellar teammate that created the sixth defender for everybody on his team. He talked and asserted his dominance. He could have dominated every game but instead he looked for his teammate's success. Off the floor, he was an amazing person always talking to his friends. I had a lot of great conversations with Miles.”
Michael Currin, another high school teammate of McBride has reflected on McBride’s character on the court.
“He’s just a competitor. He is someone you want on your team because with him by your side you are probably going to win. On top of that he is just a great all- around leader.”
McBride doesn’t start at West Virginia, but Kremer knows that Coach Huggins is using him right. “He may not be starting for West Virginia now, but he plays starter minutes and he’s finishing games. I think they (West Virginia) understand that he just has the mindset to be the best in those moments.” Therefore, West Virginia for the next 3 or so years should cherish McBride. He is everything you would want in a team basketball player. His legacy at West Virginia will be great when it is all said and done.