Grace College senior Greg Miller is shown with his parents Mike and Debbie and older brother Adam after receiving the Pete Maravich Award at the NCCAA Championships Banquet Tuesday night in Warsaw.

WARSAW – Greg Miller has “walked the walk” both on and off the basketball court during his impressive career at Grace College.

The senior star was rewarded Tuesday night in a big, big way for his efforts.

Miller, a native of Akron, was saluted with the highest honor that the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association bestows on a student-athlete.

Miller received the Pete Maravich Award during the banquet for the NCCAA Championships, which Grace will host Wednesday through Saturday.

The award, named after the former LSU star and NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, states that its’ purpose is to recognize the outstanding NCCAA student-athlete in Division I Men’s Basketball. It highlights excellence in competition, skill, academics and Christian service during his career.

“It’s just a great honor and the icing on the cake,” said Miller following the banquet. “It’s all about walking the walk and what I’ve done following Christ.”

Miller, who will lead his team into a first-round game Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m., thanked his family and teammates after accepting the award.

The hard-working star has had some impact on and off the hardwood for the Lancers. He is just the eighth player in program history to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. He currently ranks 13th in program history with 1,817 career points and eighth with 1,034 rebounds.

Miller, despite playing with a torn ligament in the wrist of his shooting hand much of this season, leads Grace in scoring (17.7), rebounding (9.6) and blocked shots (33). Known affectionately as “Diesel” by his coach and teammates, he is also tied for the team lead in minutes player per game (34.5).

Miller, an efficient and versatile player, has accomplished much at Grace. He has been both an All-American for his play on the court and an Academic All-American for his word in the classroom as well. He has also spent the last two summers working with disadvantaged youth through a program called Urban Hope in Philadelphia.

“This award is a great reflection on my parents (Mike and Debbie) and how they raised me and my brother (Adam),” Miller said. “I take very seriously being a role model for younger kids and showing them this is how you are meant to live.”

Miller’s journey has been an amazing one. The former North Miami High School was not even supposed to come to Grace originally. He was headed for NCAA Division I Wright State before the coach there who recruited him left to take a coaching job at Auburn.

The rest has been one glorious four-year run and a win-win situation for both Miller and coach Jim Kessler’s outstanding program.

“It’s been a tremendous four years here,” recalled Miller, who still has three more games to play in the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on the Grace campus. “The Lord put me here and I’ve enjoyed it.

“I feel blessed to have been a part of this program and this school. Grace has impacted me far above any impact that I’ve had here.  They have molded me into the person that I am today.”

That’s one who is richly-deserving of the honor bestowed upon him Tuesday night that’s for sure.

Greg Miller proudly displays his Pete Maravich Award Tuesday night. Shown with the Grace College star are (from left) Men’s d-1 NCCAA National Chair Jeff Santarsiero, Grace College men’s basketball coach Jim Kessler and Grace College Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe.