miner attended usc from 1989 until 1992. as a junior in what would be his final season with the team, miner's play earned him "sports illustrated" magazine's selection as the college basketball player of the year over such notable candidates as christian laettner, shaquille o'neal, and alonzo mourning. miner led the usc trojans men's basketball team to the second seed of the midwest region in the 1992 ncaa division i men's basketball tournament. the trojans were upset in the second round, however,falling on one of the most famous baskets in the tournament's history—a three-pointer at the buzzer by james forrest of georgia tech.