Congrats to Antoinette Miller and Angel Rizor for officially signing to play in Sweden and Turkey respectively. Everyone has know these two would be playing overseas for awhile, but not that the ink has dried for these two we have to make sure #BearcatNation are cheering for these two as they embark on their professional basketball journey.
Per GoBearcats:
wo former members of the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball program recently agreed to terms to play professionally overseas with Antoinette Miller and Angel Rizor both signing contracts for the upcoming 2020-21 season. Miller is set to join Wetterbygden Sparks in Sweden while Rizor will play for Cesme Basketbol Kulubu in Turkey.
“I am so excited for Ant and Angel as they start their professional basketball careers,” UC Head Coach Michelle Clark-Heard said. “They have both been so important in our success as a program these past two years. They have worked tremendously hard to help elevate the culture and level of expectations for Cincinnati Women’s Basketball”
Both women were vital to the Bearcats’ success in 2019-20 as the duo both reached the 1,000 career-points plateau while helping UC advance to the American Women’s Basketball Championship game, the program’s first league final in 17 years. Both were also honored for their play as Miller was selected as a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention and American Athletic All-Conference Second Team while Rizor was named the 2019-20 AAC Most Improved Player while earned American Athletic All-Conference Third Team honors.
// MIGHTY MILLER
Miller was woman of many talents in 2019-20 as evidenced by the numerous accolades she attained. On the court, she was named a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention and WBCA All-Region selection – the first since 2003 for the program – after also being named to the American Athletic All-Conference Second Team and earning a place on the AAC All-Tournament Team as well. Miller also was a star off the court as she was named the AAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s basketball while earning AAC All-Academic accolades as well.
Back on the court, Miller was a strong leader at the point and finished the year averaging 15.6 points per game, a two-point improvement over her previous season. The 28th member of the program’s 1,000-point club, Miller finished her career ranked highly in several statistical categories at UC, including 16th in scoring (1,199), sixth in assists (397) and 10th in steals (164).
“Being a professional baller means so much to me,” Miller said. “Throughout my basketball career, I have had many obstacles thrown at me, so it is amazing to see all of the hard work that went into this paying off. Playing for Coach Heard and Cincinnati has definitely prepared me for this moment. Coach Heard has helped me grow in many ways as a player and her trusting me with being a leader of her team has benefited me in many ways. I have been put in many situations that have helped prepare me to be successful at the next level! Sweden is a great country with great opportunity. I will be playing for a coach that has a really great vision for our team that I really look forward to being a part of.”
“Ant’s dedication to myself and my vision for the future of this program was a huge part of the reason we were able to win 46 games in two years.” Coach Clark-Heard said. “She has put in so much work both on the court and as a leader for her team and I thank her for that. I am extremely happy that Ant is able to fulfill her dream of playing basketball professionally.”
Miller is set to join Wetterbygden Basketball in September with the season getting underway October 2 with a home game against Mark Basket inside the Huskvarna Sports Hall. Wetterbygden began playing in 2014 and competes in the Swedish Basketball League, the highest division in the country. Last year, the Sparks posted a 9-9 record in a shortened season, finishing seventh overall in the 11-team division.
// RIZOR RISING
The 2019-20 AAC Most Improved Player of the Year and a member of the AAC All-Conference Third Team, Rizor stepped her game up in a big way during her senior campaign. A member of the program’s 1,000-point list (tied for 22nd all-time with 1,072 points), she connected on nearly 44% of her shots as a senior and shot over 60% four times, including a 10-for-14 performance at Houston (.718). Additionally, she also showed she was a dominant presence in the post defensively as she pulled down 722 rebounds in her career (#5) and blocked 68 shots (tied for #7).
“I felt that I will be ready to go overseas and give this program my all,” Rizor said. “(I give) a lot of credit to Coach Heard for getting me prepared. Over these past two years, I have not only grown on the court, but I grew a lot off the court as well. Coach Heard is an awesome coach; she helps push you to the limits so you can accomplish goals you never thought were possible. She is an amazing mentor; she has helped me to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to being more vocal in front of strangers and adventure into unknown territories. I always wanted to travel the world, but I never thought I would be staying in a different country with completely different cultures, values, and laws then what I am accustomed to. Now that I have been given this opportunity, I am beyond blessed and more than ready to start this new journey of my life in a beautiful city like Cesme, Turkey.”
“Angel has one of the greatest competitive spirits I have coached,” Coach Clark-Heard said. “She helped will this team to wins at times and Angel is someone that our team and staff looked to for energy and consistency on a daily basis. She shined bright in some of our biggest moments this season and showed what she was truly capable of.”
Rizor’s new team, Cesme Basketbol Kulubu, was previously known as Bosna 34 Basket. They are coming off a 2019-20 campaign in which they posted a 9-17 record in the Turkish Basketball League, finishing 13th overall in the 16-team league. The team, made up mostly of Turkish players, is set to compete this fall.
“The reason I signed to this team is because of Coach Kemal and my future teammates,” Rizor said. “They came to me with open arms and have taken a lot of time to try to get to know me and make my transition to coming overseas easier. Also, the style of play Coach Kemal likes to play with is very similar to the way we played at UC: upbeat, and quick. The season was initially supposed to start in October. Sadly, due to changes from COVID-19, the season is now starting in November and will proceed until April 28th. After April 28th, the playoff season will begin.”
