miller was born in ellwood city, pennsylvania. the son of john miller, a pennsylvania high school basketball coach, miller was a point guard under his father at blackhawk high school in chippewa township, beaver county, pennsylvania. he had developed considerable ballhandling skills before that time and appeared on "the tonight show starring johnny carson" when he was fourteen years old. his ball handling skills were such that he was featured in the 1979 movie "the fish that saved pittsburgh", starring basketball star julius erving.