Master P’s son, stand-out basketball talent, Hercy Miller, committed to HBCU Tennessee State over other big name schools. The 6’3” guard declined offers from powerhouse D-1 programs LSU, UCLA, USC, and Vanderbilt. His decision could potentially mean a more difficult path to a future in basketball considering TSU’s size. However, Hercy Miller used that fleeting sentiment to fuel his choice. He did not want to follow the trend of playing on high-profile teams per his astringent values coinciding with those of HBCUs like Tennessee State.
Hercy Miller told ESPN, “Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been taught to be a leader and to not follow the crowd. I want to make a change, I want to make a difference. I know with me, I can change the narrative. People think that you just need to go to a big school to become a pro or just to be great and that’s not true. A lot of great people came out of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and mid-majors; just they don’t have the same spotlight. So, with me, I just wanted to make a change. I wanted to be different.”
Rap heavyweight Master P briefly played hoops with the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors organizations in the late nineties. He is in full support of his son’s decision. He stated, “Basketball saved out life and to pass that down, it taught us hard work, it taught us dedication, it taught us commitment and I even use it in my business now. It brings that family atmosphere for us…it’s like therapy for our family. When we’ve got something to get off our mind, we go on the court.”
Hercy Miller is a senior at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
