Kevin Miller's servant heart left giant impact on Arkansas basketball landscape
As I sat in my chair trying to gather thoughts from the already unpleasant Tuesday I had endured, my phone lit up at 5:37 p.m.
Frustration immediately turned to devastation and shock I did not know I could feel when I read the text message that said Kevin Miller, one of my very best friends, had suddenly passed away of a heart attack while vacationing in Miami, Fla. He was a little over a month away from his 44th birthday.
Maybe it was the bad head space I had already been in from the stressors coming at me from all angles, or possibly the lack of sleep due to the craziness of my schedule this time of year.
After about 30 seconds, I realized I had no choice but to accept reality and remind myself that life is not fair.
Whether or not you ever met him, if you followed anything related to basketball in Arkansas, then you now who Kevin, or "Big Miller" as many knew him, is. To me, he was a lot of things, but mostly Kev.
From recording games throughout the Arkansas prep basketball season, to following AAU teams during various circuits, to making calls to help get kids recruited – Kev did it all. If he was not spending time with his family or working his job at the water department, he was at a gym finding ways to help athletes be seen.
His X (formerly known as Twitter) page has 43,000 posts that feature countless hours of highlight clips and Player of the Game mentions, just to name a couple.
I had known of him for a while, but I first met Kev in 2020 after I moved back to Arkansas following three years in San Antonio. I was still pretty fresh into the sports media industry, and we connected on social media.
After exchanging numbers following a few back-and-forth direct messages, we got on a call for all of three minutes, and it was basically Kev telling me he was well-connected and would help me in any way he could.
At first, I was a little perplexed. Why is this guy that I don't even know calling me so willing to help? And for nothing in return.
I came to find out, that's just Kev. While he certainly was compensated for much of his time and efforts, his actions always proved he was willing to go the extra mile and it was not about the dollar.
Kev was an inspiration to a lot of young men and women, but he was also that to me. He was more than just a friend I worked alongside to help provide athletes exposure. We talked frequently about subjects well beyond hoops.
Like any new father, I was terrified of everything when my daughter – who will be two in April – was born. That I was going to break her or just do something wrong that would be detrimental. Having been through it twice, Kev constantly gave me a hard time about it while also providing great advice. He loved his two children, Darius and Kelia, so much. He talked about them all the time.
When he was not making fun of me for being a Dallas Cowboys fan, we would bounce ideas off of each other of how we can be better at promoting, the latest details in the basketball world and just life overall.
One thing Kev brought up to me at various times throughout the past few years is he wanted to put a basketball media day together where as many teams as possible from each corner of the state come and preview the season.
That vision became a reality late last October. I was honored to be asked to be a part of it, alongside Nigel Wright, Kris Boyd and Erick Taylor – guys who are also great friends of mine and I know Kev adored. Additionally, all three have been key in promoting hoops statewide for years.
Along with that, Kev – and Nigel Wright – started 'Da Matchup' this past November, a two-day showcase at Maumelle's Hornet Arena that featured fourteen of the state's premier teams competing against each other.
It nearly brings me to tears, again, knowing that Kev at least got to see both of those unfold before his time on this earth was done.
Starting with his wife, son and daughter, Kev left behind a multitude of family and friends that he considered family, as has been displayed across social media since Tuesday evening.
This time of year during the basketball state tournaments was one of Kev's favorites, and it is an understatement to say that his passing has not already left a gaping hole.
One of the many things I could always rely on Kev was his unwavering support. Unless you have been in this business, you do not understand the grind. Just like coaches, we are away from our families, work crazy hours that can be at any time around the clock and so much more.
As much as we love it, we're human and it is natural to get burnt out. Kev always kept me going. He would tell me how much he appreciates all I do, to get some rest and try again tomorrow.
And that is what I am going to do from here. While it is natural to grieve, the best way we can all keep Kev's memory alive is to continue pushing forward. Help your neighbor when you can. And, as we have all recently been reminded, check on your people. You never know when the time will come that you will not be able to.
Thank you, Kev, for the countless hours you spent making a difference in so many young athletes' lives.
Finally, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the impact you made on mine.
-- Kyle Sutherland | kyle@scorebooklive.com | @k_sutherlandAR
