Aaron Miles Jr. has always had an eye for basketball as the son of a former professional basketball player, and his love for the game has led to success at St. Augustine.
Miles lived in several states growing up due to the coaching career of his father, Aaron Miles Sr., who is now an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans. The move to the Crescent City resulted in the younger Miles emerging as a standout on St. Augustine’s basketball team.
He became St Augustine’s starting point guard last season as a sophomore and was the leading scorer for a state championship-winning team. In his junior year, he has helped lead the Purple Knights to a 21-2 record so far.
“He loves basketball,” St. Augustine coach Wade Mason said. “It’s his passion. A lot of people say they love it, but Aaron Miles really and truly loves the game of basketball. The dude walks around with a basketball in his backpack. That’s just different.”
The elder Miles noticed his oldest son take a liking to basketball from a young age.
“When he could walk, he started feeling a basketball,” the Pelicans assistant said. “He paid attention to the court and loved what he was watching. Basketball has always been a big part of him.”
The elder Miles was a four-year starter at Kansas and had a brief stint in the NBA before getting into coaching after his playing career ended in Europe. Aaron Miles Jr. is the oldest of four boys.
“(My dad) has continuously helped me and my brothers to get where we want to be,” Miles said. “Just the little details like recovery, taking your time, pace, all that stuff.”
Miles received all-state, all-metro and all-district honors for his strong sophomore season that ended with St. Augustine winning the Division I select state title.
After seven seniors graduated from last year’s team, Miles has taken on an additional leadership role for the Purple Knights.
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St. Augustine’s Aaron Miles drives to the lane against St. Thomas More during the LHSAA Marsh Madness Division I select championship at Burton Complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Kirk Meche) Kirk Meche
“You watch kids at PE now, they want to be like Aaron Miles (Jr.),” Mason said. “This year he’s been asked to do even more, but he’s selfless. When it’s time to score, he scores, but he picks his spots to get everybody else involved. He runs the team.”
Miles is averaging 14 points per game this season. He led St. Augustine in scoring last Friday with 20 points in a 54-42 win over Jesuit to begin district play.
Thriving as a passer at the point guard position, Miles is averaging six assists per game and routinely guards the opposing team's best player, averaging four steals per game.
“The aspect of my game that I’ve improved the most on is probably my defense,” Miles said. “Having the challenge of guarding the best player every game, I really like that.”
Holy Cross transfer Abe Taylor has played a key role next to Miles as a go-to scorer. Senior post player Ja’Vardes Brazile stands at 6-foot-6 and recorded a double-double on Friday against Jesuit.
Adonis Miles, the second oldest of the four Miles brothers, is a freshman at St. Augustine and has carved out a role alongside his brother.
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St. Augustine Purple Knights's Aaron Miles (2) drives to the paint against Jesuit High School's Duke Nitcher (23) during the first half of the game at Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Staff photo by Enan Chediak, The Times-Picayune) STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK
“(Taylor, Brazile and I) are like the big three,” Miles said. “Nobody can really stop us. (Playing with Adonis) is amazing for me. Since I’m older, I never really played with him, so to share the court with him is something I’ve always dreamed about.”
Aaron Miles Jr. stands at just 5-foot-9 but has garnered recruiting interest from Division I schools. He’s received an offer from Austin Peay.
“A lot of coaches say they love him but have size concerns,” the elder Miles said. “I tell him it just takes one team to love you. I believe in his work and that it’s all going to work out in the end.”
St. Augustine has won its past six games and is looking to win back-to-back basketball state championships for the first time with Miles leading the way.
“When you play at St. Aug, it’s different,” Mason said. “The standards are higher, and you’re going to get everybody’s best shot. (Miles) is a great person. It makes me feel good to be around a kid that loves (basketball) as much as I do.”