The Tamworth Thunderbolts’ newest basketball recruit showed some of his skills to the Tamworth media at the Tamworth Sports Dome yesterday before his debut in the “opening” game of the new State League season tonight.

Miller, just turned 24, will suit up in his Thunderbolt number 10 shirt and hit the court for the 7pm tipoff against Lismore Storm.

He is the latest US import to grace the Thunderbolt court following on from the likes of Mike Pauline, Jacques Cormier and, more recently, Marshawn Hampton and Teven Herd.

“It’s another exciting time,”  Thunderbolt coach John Ireland said.

“He will bring something to what Marshawn and Teven did but if he can gel with the guys as well as Teven did then it will be good. 

“That’s the thing with imports,  you don’t know what they are going to bring (on and off the court).Hopefully Jonny will buy into the system.”

Miller has no doubts he will fit in.

Born in Orlando, Florida, he moved with his family to Washington DC when he was three months old.

He credits the State College of Florida as giving him his basketball chance and he completed his first two years of junior college there, growing and maturing as a player and person before finishing his college at Culver College, Stockton.

The last few years he’s been playing in the MPBA.

“Basketball has been my passion,” he said yesterday.

“I really have to thank the people at the State College of Florida, really owe them for the maturity and mentality they gave me. I grew up there.”

He wants to repay the faith shown in him by Ireland and the “Thunderbolt organisation” by producing on the court.

“I’m looking forward to winning games here.

“I want to send a message with every game too. I just don’t want to win by a point, I want to win by a lot.

“I know they have a lot of young guys here too. That’s good.”

He’s hoping to be something of a basketballing mentor for them too.

“I’m ready to play, really excited about it,” he concluded.