Florida Teen Basketball Star Follows Footsteps of Montverde NBA Alums

Dhani Miller, a senior at Montverde Academy, is poised to continue the school's legacy of producing top basketball talent.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:09pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, multi-perspective view of a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into abstract geometric shapes and planes of color.Montverde Academy's basketball legacy continues to inspire the next generation of stars, like senior Dhani Miller, to reach new heights.Today in Orlando

Dhani Miller, a senior basketball player at Montverde Academy in Florida, is following in the footsteps of several former Montverde stars who have gone on to play in the NBA. As the team's leading scorer this past season, Miller helped lead the Eagles to a second-place national ranking. He is now set to continue his basketball career at Kent State University.

Why it matters

Montverde Academy has long been regarded as a basketball powerhouse, producing numerous NBA players over the past decade. Miller's success and commitment to continuing that legacy highlights the school's ability to develop elite-level talent and serve as a springboard to the professional ranks.

The details

During the 2025-26 season, Miller averaged 16.5 points per game and was the team's leading scorer. Under his leadership, the Montverde Academy Eagles advanced to the Chipotle National Title Game and finished second in the national rankings. Miller has attended Montverde for the past 14 years, growing up on the school's campus while his father, Rae, worked there as a scout for the Orlando Magic.

  • Dhani Miller has attended Montverde Academy for the past 14 years.
  • During the 2025-26 season, Miller averaged 16.5 points per game.
  • Montverde Academy finished second in the national rankings in 2025-26.

The players

Dhani Miller

A senior basketball player at Montverde Academy who is following in the footsteps of several former Montverde stars now playing in the NBA.

Rae Miller

Dhani Miller's father, who has worked as a scout for the Orlando Magic and has a deep history with Montverde Academy.

Steve Turner

The head coach of the Montverde Academy basketball team, who praised Dhani Miller's leadership and understanding of the school's legacy.

Ben Simmons

A former Montverde Academy basketball player who has gone on to play in the NBA.

D'Angelo Russell

Another former Montverde Academy basketball player who has found success in the NBA.

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What they’re saying

“You want me to shed some tears today?”

— Steve Turner, Head Coach, Montverde Academy

“He understands the landscape of all that Montverde is. He's teaching me things because of the things he knows about the school. He came and sat down with me and told me he wanted to be our leader.”

— Steve Turner, Head Coach, Montverde Academy

“To be able to have him be our leader this year was pretty special.”

— Steve Turner, Head Coach, Montverde Academy

“Half of his body was paralyzed, but he was still able to get up and walk. Pushing through all the pain he was going through for at least 30 more years just to be around me for 18 years of my life was very impressive.”

— Dhani Miller, Senior, Montverde Academy

“It's just a really good fit for me where I'm going to be able to come in and do what I do, and hopefully bring a lot of winning to the program.”

— Dhani Miller, Senior, Montverde Academy

What’s next

As Dhani Miller prepares to transition to the college level, all eyes will be on his performance at Kent State University and whether he can continue the legacy of Montverde Academy players making it to the NBA.

The takeaway

Dhani Miller's success at Montverde Academy and his commitment to continuing the school's tradition of producing top basketball talent is a testament to the program's ability to develop elite players. His story highlights the power of legacy and the drive to live up to the high standards set by former Montverde stars.