Jack Miller Jr., was the University of Hawai'i's standout basketball player in the 1983-84 season, averaging 15.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and winning second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a 6-foot-8 power forward. He also won admiration from UH fans who appreciated his hard-nosed, no-nonsense game.

Today, Jack Miller III also is making a name for himself in Hawai'i's basketball circles, as a 6-3 senior point guard for Saint Louis School. After averaging 22 points per game against top Mainland and Japan competition in the Walter Wong Holiday Classic two weeks ago, he began the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season last weekend with 16 points in a 58-46 loss to Iolani and 19 points in a 54-33 victory over Mid-Pacific.

"Before this year is over," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said, "I'm sure everyone will know who he is."

That is a big reason Jack Jr. brought Jack III back home last summer after the younger Miller spent two years at Findlay High School in northwestern Ohio, living with his grandparents. But the main reason was to reunite all the Millers.

"The No. 1 reason was family — to bring all of us back together," Jack Jr. said. "It was hard for my parents to see him leave, because they loved having him there and watching all of his games. But I told my dad, 'Hey, he's my son, and I want him to come home.' "

Jack III grew up playing basketball in the Kalanianaole Athletic Club and later at Iolani, but transferred to Findlay for his sophomore year.

Jack Jr. declined comment on the reason for the transfer to the Mainland, except to say it was for the best.

In fact, it almost turned out too well.

Miller won all-conference honors at Findlay and was named to the All-District team last year — an honor bestowed on only 32 players in the state of Ohio.

"It's a big school, but my first year there I played football — and almost all the athletes played football — so I made a lot of friends," he said. "In basketball, two other starters made second-team all-conference and the other two made honorable mention, and we were all supposed to be back this year. So the coach was pretty upset when I left."

Miller came back to a Crusaders team on which he is the only senior and one of only a few players with a full year of varsity experience. One of his teammates is his brother, freshman forward Jamison. Despite its youth, Miller says Saint Louis is aiming for a state tournament berth.

"We have high expectations, and we want to make it to states," Miller said. "We think we can do it."

Miller is a rare 6-3 point guard in Hawai'i, which causes matchup problems for opponents. He also has the ball-handling, passing and defensive skills of smaller point guards, plus the foot speed to lead fast breaks.

Against Iolani's Kyle Pape — his good friend and one of the state's top defenders — Miller had 16 points, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

"Jack really helps them because he helps the younger players by getting them the ball in a place where they can score," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "The biggest plus about him is he's not just about scoring. He understands the game completely. Whenever you have experience against top competition like he does, it's always a good thing.

"We always knew Jack was a talented player, and I'm glad to see him doing so well."

Jack Miller Jr. said son Jack III came back from Ohio "stronger and more mature. He's just a better all-around player."

"The intensity was higher," Miller said of Ohio basketball.

Jack Jr. also noticed the change in his son's game since he left 2› years ago.

"He's always had good coaching, but now he's stronger and more mature," Jack Jr. said. "He's just a better all-around player."

Miller has received recruiting interest from Division I colleges such as Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green and Toledo, along with Division II Hawai'i Pacific. But Jack Jr.'s dream is to see his son follow in his footsteps to UH.

"I pushed him and his brother into basketball because of all the things it did for me, and all the doors it opened for me," said Jack Jr., who is general manager for ABC Supply, a building materials company. "Hawai'i is such a small community, and in business my name recognition has really helped a lot. I mean, I played for UH over 20 years ago, and people still come up to me today and tell me they remember watching me play."

That name recognition has followed Jack III, but the younger Miller says he has been able to shape his own identity, especially in basketball.

"There's been some pressure on me, like a shadow," Miller said. "But we play different positions — he was more of an inside guy and I'm a guard. It was a challenge, but now I just play my own game and do whatever it takes to help the team win."

Jack III's game is now even good enough to beat Jack Jr. in serious games of one-on-one.

"I remember the first time he beat me, he ran all the way home from the park just to tell his mother," said Jack Jr., who once scored 23 points in a college game against Karl Malone. "I always played him all out, because if he won I wanted it to be a legitimate win. So when I got home, my wife asked if he beat me for real, and I said, 'Yeah, he's for real.' "