MESA – What started as a typical family gathering ended with Jakyi “Kyi Kyi” Miles and his cousins storming into the house in tears.

It all started in the backyard on the basketball court. Miles and his cousins were shooting around, following the unwritten rule that each player continues until they miss a shot.

A friendly game quickly took a turn for the worse before Miles’ father, Jarvis, heard the sound of footsteps stampeding into the house. Miles ran inside, pleading his case that his cousins wouldn’t return the ball after a made shot. Meanwhile, his cousins protested and claimed they never got a chance to shoot.

Taking matters into his own hands, Jarvis decided not to pick sides but to see what was happening for himself. Kyi Kyi sank 20 shots in a row, and Jarvis not only realized his cousins were mistaken but also that his 6-year-old son had special potential.

“Ever since he was young, he doesn’t get too up, he doesn’t get too down,” Jarvis said. “You wouldn’t know if he’s having a good game or a bad game because he always remained the same.

“He’s just always been a humble kid naturally.”
Fast forward to today. When Miles’ trainer, Ethan Telfair, speaks about the 15-year-old, it sounds like he’s describing one of the top college basketball recruits. Telfair praises Miles’ basketball IQ, mentality and “ability to get a bucket.”

“Kyi Kyi can read the game like he’s already playing for the Boston Celtics,” Telfair said. “He’s making reads like he’s on the NBA floor but he’s actually on the high school floor.”

In this case, while the statement is bold, it’s inaccurate – not because Miles can’t read the game or isn’t a top prospect, but because he hasn’t yet played a single high school game.

For Telfair, this statement comes easily, shaped by his firsthand experience of witnessing the hype surrounding a fifth grader – his brother, former Phoenix Suns guard Sebastian Telfair.

Hype, scholarship offers and highlight reels aside for a player holding offers from the University of San Francisco, Texas Tech, Boise State, Arizona State, GCU, and Florida A&M – with Texas and Stanford joining the list in the last week – here’s a look at what led a 13-year-old Miles to his first scholarship — and why the stream of offers is only just beginning.

Before a recent workout, Miles walked into Inspire Courts in Gilbert with his parents and younger brother, Jayce, by his side.

Going through yet another weekly individual skills workout, following a day that usually includes school, a sixth-period basketball class, weights, and practice, the presence of his family means everything to Miles.

Unable to help but make eye contact with his parents throughout, and with his 10-year-old brother, Jayce, by his side, Miles is reminded of the mindset they instilled in him: one of never giving up, giving his all and avoiding complacency.

As outlets like Ballislife, with over 9 million Instagram followers, continue to create highlight mixtapes and dub him the best player in the Class of 2028, outside noise and rankings mean nothing to Miles – a perspective he credits to the way his parents raised him.

Helping Jayce one day surpass his own abilities and accomplishments, and opening doors for his family to live the best life possible, remains Miles’ driving motivation.

Expectations, however, aren’t always easy to handle, especially when his trainer, Ethan Telfair, sees similarities between Miles and his older brother, Sebastian, the former 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and a 10-year NBA veteran.

According to Ethan, the “divine aura” that makes Miles “built for this” certainly plays a role, but it’s the way Miles consistently finds reminders of what it takes to be great that Ethan believes will keep him from ever straying from the mindset his parents instilled in him.

Mesa boys basketball coach Scott Stansberry quickly noticed that Kyi Kyi Miles stood out from the typical freshman.

His body language on the court, leadership, academic focus and commitment to taking care of his body off the court all reflect a player who, Stansberry says, has “really big things in store for him.”

This past summer, Kyi Kyi trained and competed against Division I players at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, a renowned development hub for both professional and student basketball players.

Following one of the runs, former 12-year NBA veteran Randy Brown stood at center court and, in front of everyone, addressed Kyi Kyi directly: “If you’re not the best player in the country by your senior year, something’s wrong. You’re one of the best players at this camp.”

To Stansberry, this came as no surprise.

“For someone who could get ‘big-headed,’ he doesn’t even let himself get that way,” Stansberry said.

While Stansberry sees his role as one of challenging Kyi Kyi daily, both on and off the court, he admits it’s not difficult.

Since picking up a basketball, Kyi Kyi has shown relentless drive; every time his dad, Jarvis, walks in the door from work, the first question out of his mouth is always, “What are we doing today, and where are we working out?”

Facing opponents who may be bigger, stronger or faster doesn’t seem to faze Miles also helps.

No matter the opponent, Miles’ mindset every time he steps on the court remains simple: dominate, give maximum effort, and leave no doubt.

“He’s going to make everyone around him better, defend, and he can flat-out get a bucket whenever he wants,” Telfair said. “That’s why everyone likes the Kyrie Irvings, Stephen Currys, Damian Lillards. These are smaller guards who can facilitate, defend, and elevate the players around them, but they can get a bucket in the most creative ways.”

During a free throw drill where each player had to sink both shots or the entire team faced a sprint, Miles and his teammates made it a point to sprint out and high-five the shooter, regardless of the outcome.

This, in itself, is what excites Miles most about embarking on his first high school season.

It’s never been about the offers, the publicity or the bigger stage for Miles.

Instead, it’s about the opportunity to “go out there, be a good teammate, and have fun with my teammates.”

One day, Miles envisions a future where he plays in front of thousands, knowing he thrives most when the spotlight is on him and the pressure is high. He dreams of hearing from schools like Arkansas and Duke, with an offer from John Calipari leaving him speechless.

Until then, looking ahead to the rest of his high school career, Miles isn’t focused on what lies ahead.
The future, he believes thanks to his parents, will take care of itself.

For now, all he worries about is playing the game he loves – something he can’t fully put into words – finding new ways to improve each day, staying curious, and doing it all with a smile on his face.