Zebras Three Sport Standout Led NBHS to 2019 GMCT Final Four and 2020 CJ Group 4 Semis
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Despite suffering some disappointments this past-season, the New Brunswick boys basketball program still has come a long way from when head coach, Samir Sanu took the reins prior to the start of the 2016-17. The Zebras went from a program that was 8-81 overall and 5-51 in divisional play in the five seasons before Sanu’s hiring to reaching the 2019 GMCT Final Four, and getting a share of the GMC White and making it to the Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals this past season.
Earlier this year, one of the keys to the programs return to prominence, Tahjay Moore, committed to play football at Rutgers, and on Saturday, GMC Hoops learned via Instagram that senior point guard, Ahyan Brown-Miller announced his commitment to play football at Wagner College in Staten Island. Wagner, a member of NCAA’s D1 FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), competes in the Northeast Conference. Brown-Miller, a four year varsity starter at New Brunswick, finished his career with 1,690 career points.
Brown-Miller, who received numerous honors in the 2020 GMC Hoops Awards including a First Team All GMC Hoops selection, played in all 28 games for the Zebras in 2019-20, and made 126 field goals, 60 threes, and 75 foul shots for a total of 523 points along with 185 assists, 182 rebounds, 115 steals, and 5 blocked shots, or an average of 18.7 points, 6.6 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 steals per game according to stats compiled by nj.com. New Brunswick finished 20-8 overall including a 10-2 mark in the GMC White for a share of the division title, and reached the 2020 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals.
Leading the team in scoring, Brown-Miller also ranked first in games played, assists, steals, and three pointers, and 2nd in field goals and rebounds this past season. He scored in double figures in 25 of the 28 games including 12 games of 20 points or more. One of those performances was a career high 32 points on 4 field goals and 8 three pointers while also collecting 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals in a 80-62 loss to the Patrick School in New Brunswick on February 5, 2020.
As a junior, Brown-Miller played in all 25 games for New Brunswick, and made 104 field goals, 38 threes, and 114 foul shots for a total of 457 points along with 151 assists, 130 rebounds, 66 steals, and 3 blocks for an average of 18.3 points, 6.0 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game. He scored in double figures in 22 of the 25 games he played including 13 games with 20 points or more. His season high was a 30 point performance on 6 field goals, 3 treys, and 9 free throws in a buzzer beating, 71-68 loss at J.F. Kennedy on January 17, 2019.
During his sophomore year, Brown-Miller played in all 22 games for the Zebras, and made 127 field goals, 19 threes, and 116 free throws for a total of 428 points along with 63 assists, 61 rebounds, and 47 steals for an average of 19.4 points, 2.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per contest. He scored in double figures in 20 of those 22 games including 13 contests with 20 points or more. His season high was a 31 point performance on 8 field goals and 15 free throws in a 71-70 victory against Woodbridge on January 23, 2018.
In Sanu’s first year, the 2016-17 season, Brown-Miller played in 22 of New Brunswick’s 23 games as a freshman, and made 91 field goals, 11 threes, and 66 free throws for a total of 282 points along with 40 rebounds, 31 assists, and 23 steals for an average of 12.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He scored in double figures 13 times including two games of 20 points or more. For his career, Brown-Miller played in 97 games, and made 448 field goals, 128 threes, and 371 foul shots for his 1,690 points along with 430 assists, 413 rebounds, 251 steals, and 9 blocked shots.
Brown-Miller averaged 17.4 points, 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.6 steals, and scored in double figures 80 times including 40 contests with 20 points or more, and 3 games with 30 or more. Brown-Miller recorded 15 double-doubles including 12 his senior year, and he had one triple double, which was an inspiring 10 point, 11 assist, 10 steal performance against Toms River East (New Brunswick won 53-48) in the NJ Panthers-Coaches Choice Showcase at Bound Brook High School on January 12, 2020 after returning from a sprained ankle in a 47-34 loss at Edison on January 4th.
During his four years at New Brunswick High School, the Zebras had an overall record of 52-46 including a 24-24 mark in the GMC White. However, New Brunswick improved from a 7-16 overall and a 2-10 White Division record in 2016-17 to a 20-8 overall mark and a 10-2 record in divisional play this past season. Brown-Miller also excelled on the football field. While at New Brunswick, Brown-Miller rushed 5 times for 141 yards, and 2 TDs, had one TD reception, and picked off 4 passes while forcing a fumble.
In addition to his exploits on the field, Brown-Miller also excelled in the classroom with a GPA over 3.0, and a leader in the Class of 2020 at New Brunswick High School. As a result, Brown-Miller was recognized by GMC Hoops as a member of the 2020 GMC Hoops All-Academic Team. At Wagner, Brown-Miller will be joining former Piscataway Tech hoops and Edison gridiron standout, Branden Barnes, who was a 1,000 point scorer for the Raiders, and is the older brother to Edison sophomore Niko Barnes.
Congratulations Ahyan on your commitment to Wagner, and best of luck at the next level.