Miles Aiken

Aiken was born in New York City. He grew up in the neighborhood of Harlem in the New York City borough of Manhattan, playing basketball in its playgrounds.[2][3][4]

Aiken attended St. Bonaventure University in New York State, and played center for their basketball team.[5] He averaged more than 20 points a game on the school's freshman squad in 1960–61.[2]

As a sophomore, he started for the Bonnies, and averaged 23.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.[6][7][8][9][10] By December 1961, he was rated one of the outstanding prospects in the United States.[11] On December 16, 1961, he broke Elgin Baylor's Bluegrass invitational basketball tournament record by scoring 58 points in two games.[12] On February 13, 1962, he was named to the weekly major college All-East Basketball Team by the Eastern College Athletic Conference.[13] Aiken averaged 23 points per game in his first two years of varsity play.[3]

In early 1963, after averaging 23 points per game and 14 rebounds per game in 10 games, he injured his left knee in a game against Duquesne University. He underwent surgery, and was sidelined for a good portion of the year.[10][14][15][16][17]

When he was not drafted in the 1964 NBA draft, Aiken went to Europe to play basketball.[4] He used a brace on his injured knee.[4][15]

Aiken played for Águilas Escolapios Schuss de Bilbao (Spain) in 1965–66, and was the top scorer in the Primera División.[18] He also played for the Newcastle Eagles in 1965–66 under Spanish coach Antonio Diaz Miguel, and led the National League in scoring with 23.9 points per game.[15]

He then played for Real Madrid in the late 1960s, leading them to two consecutive EuroLeague titles in 1967 and 1968.[19] In 1967, he led his team with 31 points in its semifinal win over Olimpija, 88–86, and he had 23 points in the EuroLeague Final to help Real Madrid beat Simmenthal Milano.[15][20] In 1968, in the title game he led all scorers with 26 points to lead Real Madrid to the title against Spartak Brno, 98–95.[21] In the 1969 European Cup final CSKA Moscow beat Real Madrid in double overtime, as he led Madrid with 24 points.[22]

He joined Partenope Napoli that summer and led it to the 1970 Saporta Cup title, over JDA Dijon Basket.[23] Jet magazine noted that he was one of four blacks in the European finals, along with Rudy Bennett (New York University), Larry Robertson (Oklahoma University), and Jim Williams (Temple University).[24] Concurrently with playing for the team, he coached, and earned a long-distance teaching degree at the University of Southern California. He worked in England as a teacher after completing his studies.[15]

On February 3, 2008, Aiken was among 105 players nominated for the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors list.[23]

In October 1975, he became Britain's Olympic basketball team coach.[25] He coached the British Olympic team in 1976.[4]

Aiken later moved into business and sports commentating.[26] In 1982, he began hosting broadcasts of British basketball games on British television.[4] The Boston Globe wrote in 1984 that he "has probably done more than anyone to stimulate interest for basketball in Britain, just by force of his personality."[4]

He covered American football with Nicky Horne in the 1980s.[27][28][29] In 1983, he covered the Super Bowl for Britain's independent Channel Four, London, with the broadcast attracting two million British viewers.[30][31]

• EuroLeague Finals Top Scorers

• Euroleague 50 Greatest Contributors – Nominees