When she initially began playing basketball at age eight, Robert Wren knew his daughter, Johnkeria Miles, would be on a fast track.
"We started playing when she was eight years old, going to the park and gym and playing against her and her brother and also teaching them the fundamentals," recalled Wren. "That's when I discovered that she was truly a natural for the game.
"She made an AAU team her fist year playing organized basketball."
A few years later, Miles made a mercurial rise into the Memorial Day High School program.
As an eighth grader, the 5-8 Miles is leading the team in nearly every offensive 
category: points (16.6), rebounds (16.4), assists (3.7), steals (5.8), blocks (1.7), and field-goal percentage (52 percent). She is second on the team in three-point shooting percentage (25) and fourth in free throw percentage (45).
The phenom also is ranked 17th in the nation in rebounding, and she leads every major category in the GIAA A Region 6. Miles is among the top seven in every category in the Ga Division GIAA, and most impressively, she leads the state in the double-doubles per game average.
For Miles, it has been a dominant effort on many fronts. Yet, there hasn't been any trepidation for an eighth grader playing against high school girls.
"My dad took me to the gym every day, and my family influenced me to start playing basketball," noted Miles. "The first time I stepped on the court in middle school, I felt confident enough to play with the big girls.
"My mindset is to win, give it my everything, and to motivate my team."
Head coach Emon Grayson has cherished every moment along the way. Grayson has enjoyed watching Miles take the first step in possibly rewriting the school's record books as well as some of the state's.
Johnkeria is a player who consistently fills up the stat sheet every time she's on the court," beamed Grayson. "She's like a gentle giant, capable of doing just about anything. Beyond basketball, she's an excellent student. It's truly a joy to coach her, and I'm incredibly grateful to have come across such a rare gem."
Miles recently scored a game-high 16 points leading the Matadors to the sixth straight victory and helping them to improve to 7-2 overall. Her most memorable 
moment occurred last year when her seventh-grade team beat Oglethorpe Charter School what she described as an "unstoppable" team.
"We played until the end against them," recalled Miles. "We never gave up, and we stayed confident. We all play the same way on the high school team."
Still, Miles has managed to keep her play on and off the court in a confident and not conceited manner. She has plenty of drive and little fear for any challenge ahead.
"Nothing really intimidates me because I know I can play," stressed Miles. "Last week, I got my first crossover in a game."
"I feel basketball is one of the most physical sports. But for me, it is always student first and player second."
Most of Savannah already has found out about her being a player.
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Memorial Day School
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