Ian Miletic, a junior at Rolling Meadows High School and 3-year starter on its varsity basketball team, is drawing attention from some top tier college programs. He already has offers from Marquette, Illinois and Miami of Ohio. He also was invited to visit Wisconsin and Loyola, and an assistant coach from Notre Dame caught one of his games.
Ian Miletic
Earlier this month, Matt Painter, Head Coach of the No. 2 ranked Purdue Boilermakers, was in the stands to watch Ian as the Mustangs played the Spartans from Glenbrook North High School.
“It’s an honor to have all these coaches coming to watch,” Ian says. “I’m really trying to take in this moment I’ve dreamed of and make it a moment of growth for me.”
Ian is a 6′ 7″ forward for the Mustangs, who averages 20 points per game, 10 rebounds and makes more than 50% of his three-point attempts. As a result, Ian was named Mid-Suburban League East Player of the Year this month and with his teammates, Jack Duffer and Jaeden Warrener, was named to the Mid-Suburban League All Conference team. But it’s the intangibles that make him a good recruit, his coach says.
“Ian is an extremely hard working and skilled basketball player,” says Rolling Meadows Head Coach Kevin Katovich. “His talents on the floor are only exceeded by his character off of the floor. He is going to make an outstanding contribution to whatever school is lucky enough to get him.”
Ian, No. 35, and his eighth grade Rolling Meadows feeder team
It’s heady stuff for this young player, but through it all he is drawing on his roots growing up in Arlington Heights, including working out at the ARC (Arlington Recreation Center), taking practice shots in the mornings at Our Lady of the Wayside, and playing hoops with his lifelong friends — and now teammates.
Ian dates his friendship with Jack Duffer back to kindergarten at Westgate Elementary School. They started playing basketball together then before attending South Middle School and eventually joining the Rolling Meadows High School feeder team, coached by Jack’s father. Each of the members of that team continued on to Rolling Meadows and nearly all are playing on the varsity team.
“We’ve played together for so long that we’ve built this chemistry and teamwork that translates onto the court,” Ian says. “There’s this great camaraderie, a kind of family relationship from our years growing up together and playing on feeder.”
Ian talks basketball with young players at the ARC.
Still, Ian concedes he has much to work on and he tries to get better every day.
“I’m still trying to get more comfortable with my right hand,” Ian says, “and get more comfortable going downhill. I’m trying to see the court better when I’m driving (to the basket), and knowing when to be aggressive with my on-court reads and when to make adjustments.”
The possibilities are endless for this young hoops player, but he’s taking it in stride. Next up? The No. 6 seeded Mustangs play the 11th seed, Hoffman Estates Hawks at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Zurich High School in regional play. Let the madness begin.
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