20 Questions With Your Boy — C.J. Miles

On June 19, the Nuggets worked out Monta Ellis of Lanier High School in Mississippi, Sharrod Ford of Clemson, Angelo Gigli from Italy, C.J. Miles of Skyline High School in Texas and Ricky Sanchez from Puerto Rico. Ellis is a 6-foot-3 guard who averaged 38.4 ppg, 7.9 apg, 6.9 rpg and 4.5 spg as a senior in high school. Ford is a 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 14.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg in his senior season at Clemson. Gigli is a 6-foot-11 forward who averaged 10.9 ppg and 5.0 rpg for Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia thiS past season. Miles is a 6-foot-6 guard who averaged 23.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg as a senior in high school. Finally, Sanchez is a 6-foot-11 forward who is ranked as one of the top small forwards in this year’s high school class.

C.J. Miles

1. Q: How did your workout go today?

A: I had a good workout, but I could have shot better. I have been shooting a lot better at all my workouts than I did today. I shot good, but didn’t shoot as well as I have been shooting.

2. Q: What was the best part of your workout today?

A: Showing them that I can do more than just jump shots. Showing them that I can get into the paint. Monta is a real quick guard, so I showed them that I can get by quick guards.

3. Q: What do you look to prove to each organization that you workout for, and how do you prepare yourself?

A: The first thing I want to prove is that I am mature enough to handle the transition and that I have the skills. As far as getting ready for it, just relax. It’s just kind of like you’re at home playing in your high school or playing an AAU game. That’s the way you have to think about it.

4. Q: What is your game’s biggest strength?

A: Right now, I would have to say my jump shot. My jump shot enables me to set everything else up.

5. Q: What is your biggest weakness?

A: Strength and I think I could be more explosive, but it comes with getting stronger.

6. Q: With the Draft a little more than a week away are you getting anxious?

A: All of us high school guys are getting anxious but from my workouts it’s been looking pretty good, so I’m not as anxious as I was when I first started. I’ve been getting real good feedback and having good workouts.

7. Q: You were a little banged up when you worked out for the Nuggets a few weeks ago, how are you feeling now?

A: Great! Back to normal, now that I am back on two legs. I was on one leg last time I was here and I could barely run, but now I move a lot better, push off better, switch directions. It was good today.

8. Q: What was your best game in high school?

A: The best game I had was against our rival when I had 47 points.

9. Q: What are you looking forward to the most about being in the NBA?

A: Being able to play against the best players in the world. Being able to showcase your skills and show everybody in the world what you can do. Especially at my age for the people that said I wasn’t going to be able to do this.

10. Q: What is your biggest fear about it?

A: My fear is just coming in and starting to doubt myself. It’s a transition and everybody knows that they’re not going to be able to come in and play right away unless that’s the situation. In my situation that’s not what I’m going to do. I might get in 8-10 minutes a game but I don’t want to let my confidence go down and then I start to play badly when I start getting playing time. Staying on top of myself and just keep playing hard.

11. Q: Do you have a favorite player or role model that you looked up to the most growing up?

A: Of course, Michael Jordan but that’s everybody’s. I like a lot of players but I watch more to pick up things than to watch. A lot of people tell me I play like Ray Allen. I don’t know where that came from. They tell me I look like him too, but I don’t really agree with that.

12. Q: When did you start playing basketball?

A: As soon as I recognized what it was. I have pictures from when I didn’t even know what anything was and I had a little ball in my crib. As soon as I figured out what it was, I had my little Fisher Price goal and I went at it, jumping off the stairs and stuff.

13. Q: What do you think your biggest challenge is going to be at the next level?

A: I just need to stay confident and handle the transition. I know I can but you still have to come in and work hard and show the coaches and the coaching staff and everybody else what you can do and that way you can work your way up.

14. Q: What will be the first thing that you buy if you get drafted into the NBA?

A: A black Escalade!

15. Q: What was your favorite subject in school?

A: I wouldn’t say I had a favorite, but I didn’t hate any of them either. If I had to pick one I guess I would probably say History—just learning about a lot of different things about what happened. You know things but then when you start to get into the details then you start saying, “Oh I didn’t know that.” So you can learn something new everyday.

16. Q: Who is the biggest influence in your life?

A: My parents. They’ve been there. They haven’t set me wrong yet and they’ve been there since they had me.

17. Q: Who is your favorite musical artist?

A: Right now, I’m going to have to say Lil’ Wayne.

18. Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: “He Got Game.”

19. Q: Did you follow the Nuggets at all this past season?

A: Oh yeah, I watched the Nuggets. I love watching teams that play up and down because that’s the way I like to play.

20. Q: Finally, how do you think you’d fit in with this team and what do you feel you could add to the roster?

A: I think I could fill the void that they have in the shooting guard spot, the outside shooting. That’s what they’re looking for in the draft and they have two picks and they are looking for a shooting guard with one and maybe a big man with the other.