Grayslake Central's Miller likes Butler

Want to get recruited by your dream school?

Here's a tip, courtesy of Grayslake Central senior Austin Miller.

Don't wait for your dream school to come to you. Instead, go to your dream school.

That's how Miller became a Division I athlete last week.

On Tuesday, Miller, a standout shortstop for the Rams, signed his national letter of intent to play baseball at Butler University in Indianapolis.

He chose Butler over Air Force, Illinois-Chicago and Northern Illinois.

Miller says if he had never reached out to the coaches at Butler, he doubts they would have ever known he existed.

“When I went down there for my official visit, the coaches were telling me that they sure were glad I had contacted them because they wouldn't have known that I was out there,” Miller said. “They recruit more of central and southern Illinois. They don't really come up here, so our paths probably wouldn't have crossed.”

Miller wasn't going to let that stop him.

Butler was recommended to him by a family friend, so Miller put it on his list of schools to consider.

He visited the campus with his family last summer and loved what he saw. He was also intrigued by the top-notch engineering program that Butler offers. It was exactly what he was looking for.

Miller had already been contacted by various college baseball programs, but not by Butler. So after that first trip to Indianapolis, Miller went on the offensive.

“I reached out to them (the coaches at Butler),” Miller said. “I think it's a good thing to do because you know what you want (out of a college) and what you're looking for and all these coaches out there don't. You just have to find out a little bit about them and about how you can get them to see you. I noticed they were having a (summer) camp and I made sure to sign up for it and tell them that I was coming. They said they were happy that I did that.”

Miller said he was convincing at Butler's camp, playing well and impressing at all the right times. Add in the highlight films that Miller had already sent to the Butler coaches, as well as his resume, which is jammed with all kinds of great numbers and accomplishments, and the coaches at Butler were convinced.

Last spring, Miller guided the Rams to a 30-win season, the Fox Valley Conference title and a regional championship. He led the team with 4 home runs, hit .365 and also drove in 24 runs while making all kinds of spectacular plays on defense.

“The more we watched (Miller), the stronger the desire to get him into our program grew,” Butler coach Steve Farley said. “Finding a middle infielder was a top priority in our 2011 class. We are delighted we got our guy.”

Meanwhile, Miller is delighted he got his school. And the baseball program that fits him best.

“I see myself being able to contribute right away and that's what the coaches also told me,” Miller said. “The team has a bunch of cool guys that have fun together and they just signed some other really good players, too. It should be a great experience.”

Miller will have his own persistence and initiative to thank.

“I'm just glad everything worked out,” Miller said. “This is a decision that will affect the next four years of my life, maybe more.”