Published: Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Timeout with ... Miles Erickson Senior Mountlake Terrace Basketball
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After getting cut from the Mountlake Terrace High School basketball program last season, Miles Erickson could have given up and moved on. But this winter, after working hard in the offseason, Erickson impressed Terrace's coaches and made the Hawks varsity squad. The 6-foot-3 senior said he feels more comfortable playing the guard position but has primarily been used as a post on the team. The transition was difficult but a good challenge, he said. A well-rounded student-athlete, Erickson has a 4.0 grade-point average this semester and plans to become a chemical engineer.
Don’t ever quit.
That’s the attitude Miles Erickson had after he got cut from the Mountlake Terrace High School basketball program last season. He could have felt sorry for himself and moved on. But this winter, after working hard in the offseason, Erickson impressed Mountlake Terrace coaches and earned a spot on the Hawks varsity squad.
“He’s not a kid we can say we kept. He’s a kid that made us keep him,” Terrace head coach Nalin Sood said.
Erickson, a 6-foot-3 senior post, will never forget the day he finally made varsity. Erickson learned the great news when his teammate, junior Mitch Haldane, bounced out of the locker room and said Erickson’s name was on the final list of players posted by coaches. They shared a triumphant high-five.
“I was ecstatic,” said Erickson. “I was kind of in shock because of how devastating it was last year (when Erickson was cut). I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high.”
Coach’s corner
Although he started four games early in the season, Erickson has mainly been coming off the bench and getting infrequent playing time on a team that often uses an 11-player rotation. Regardless of how his role changes, Erickson gives maximum effort in practice, has a nice inside-outside game and is always ready to contribute, coach Sood said: “He’s just been wonderful to be around and works his tail off. He just represents the program in an outstanding way.”
Keep pushing
Erickson started playing basketball at age 4. His enthusiasm for the game is stronger than ever. “The best part about basketball,” he said, “is that no matter how talented you are there’s always stuff to improve upon. No matter how good you are, you can’t be too good.”
“And it’s a team game,” he added. “Individuals can excel but the players don’t always make the best teams.”
Impressive turnaround
As a freshman, Erickson struggled in school and had a 2.8 grade-point average. But he turned things around and currently has a cumulative GPA of about 3.6, including 4.0 in the most recent semester with a class load that featured two advanced-placement classes (calculus and chemistry). Erickson is also a member of jazz choir and the Hi-Q knowledge team, and he volunteers at the Alderwood Boys & Girls Club.
Dream job
“Science and math really click for me,” said Erickson, who wants to become a chemical engineer. He plans to attend a college in Washington. He’s seriously considering Pacific Lutheran University, which recently offered him a President’s Merit Scholarship.
All that jazz
Although he enjoys all types of music, Erickson plays jazz tunes when he wants to relax. It makes perfect sense considering he is named after jazz legend Miles Davis.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
That’s the attitude Miles Erickson had after he got cut from the Mountlake Terrace High School basketball program last season. He could have felt sorry for himself and moved on. But this winter, after working hard in the offseason, Erickson impressed Mountlake Terrace coaches and earned a spot on the Hawks varsity squad.
“He’s not a kid we can say we kept. He’s a kid that made us keep him,” Terrace head coach Nalin Sood said.
Erickson, a 6-foot-3 senior post, will never forget the day he finally made varsity. Erickson learned the great news when his teammate, junior Mitch Haldane, bounced out of the locker room and said Erickson’s name was on the final list of players posted by coaches. They shared a triumphant high-five.
“I was ecstatic,” said Erickson. “I was kind of in shock because of how devastating it was last year (when Erickson was cut). I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high.”
Coach’s corner
Although he started four games early in the season, Erickson has mainly been coming off the bench and getting infrequent playing time on a team that often uses an 11-player rotation. Regardless of how his role changes, Erickson gives maximum effort in practice, has a nice inside-outside game and is always ready to contribute, coach Sood said: “He’s just been wonderful to be around and works his tail off. He just represents the program in an outstanding way.”
Keep pushing
Erickson started playing basketball at age 4. His enthusiasm for the game is stronger than ever. “The best part about basketball,” he said, “is that no matter how talented you are there’s always stuff to improve upon. No matter how good you are, you can’t be too good.”
“And it’s a team game,” he added. “Individuals can excel but the players don’t always make the best teams.”
Impressive turnaround
As a freshman, Erickson struggled in school and had a 2.8 grade-point average. But he turned things around and currently has a cumulative GPA of about 3.6, including 4.0 in the most recent semester with a class load that featured two advanced-placement classes (calculus and chemistry). Erickson is also a member of jazz choir and the Hi-Q knowledge team, and he volunteers at the Alderwood Boys & Girls Club.
Dream job
“Science and math really click for me,” said Erickson, who wants to become a chemical engineer. He plans to attend a college in Washington. He’s seriously considering Pacific Lutheran University, which recently offered him a President’s Merit Scholarship.
All that jazz
Although he enjoys all types of music, Erickson plays jazz tunes when he wants to relax. It makes perfect sense considering he is named after jazz legend Miles Davis.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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