Miles Brewster ’20, a three-year member and two-year captain of the Boys Varsity Basketball team, lights up the court with his energetic style of play. Last year, Miles was named to the all-NEPSAC class A team and led the Hotchkiss team to the semi-finals of the New England championship. Teammate CJ Mitchell ’21 said, “Miles is a great teammate on and off the court. He is a natural leader [who] the team rallies behind.”

When and why did you start playing basketball?
It’s always been in my life. I’ve played since before I can remember, probably [since] I was four [or] five years-old. I’ve also always been traveling around the country, going to Florida and Virginia for games. My older brother played basketball, but my parents didn’t.
What has been your favorite moment playing basketball at Hotchkiss?
The Taft game last year…was really big for me personally. In the first half, I was having a terrible game: I had zero points, I felt out of rhythm, I had just come off a wrist injury, and they were beating us by just a little bit. When the second half came, I really felt like I helped push us towards the win. I had 16 points in the second half, which is above what I averaged per game, and then I hit the two winning free throws, so that was a good one.
Another memory [is] the Tabor game that we played at Avon. It was the quarterfinals of the NEPSAC championship, and it was so funny, because nobody was there until a minute before the game started. Then, right before the game, you hear the drums, and the whole school comes flooding in, with over a hundred kids all dressed in black. I really felt like I was representing my school. It was great! That was probably one of my favorite moments, and we won.
How do you get ready for a game?
I pretty much just go through my routine, so stretching, form shooting, making sure my thoughts are right, and making sure my body feels right. [I like] being loud, energetic, being the most vocal guy. I always love yelling in the lay-up line in the warmup. And one of the really essential things is meditation. I always meditate before games. Usually 5-10 minutes before the game starts, I’ll leave. I’ll go sit on the bench, and just center myself and breathe. I use meditation a lot.
Who inspires you on the team?
I’d have to say Aidan [Rodgers ’21]. Aidan inspires me, because height is such an advantage in the game, so being 6’0, he has all the reason to give up, but he’s in the gym every day. He’s always working, and he doesn’t do it for anyone else, or for admiration, he does it because that’s what he needs to do. So, I’d say, if anyone inspires me, it’s Aidan.
What are your goals for the season?
Winning [the] NEPSAC Class A championship. That’s it, because last year, we lost in the semis, and it was a terrible, terrible feeling. Personally, I’ve already made NEPSAC all-league and committed to a university [to play basketball], so the personal accolades, I don’t need. I need us to win. I think we have all the talent in the world to win, it’s just about whether we’re gonna have the grit, determination, and the chemistry to do it.
How has the team changed during your time here?
The team has changed so much! When I came as a sophomore, I felt like the basketball team was kind of an afterthought. The culture wasn’t very strong; it was Coach [Yassine] Talhaoui’s first year; and nobody came to get shots in outside of practice.
When everyone’s here because they love the sport of basketball, it creates a culture that we’re all here to win, and that we’re all here to come together. In the fall, we were really competitive, playing four days a week for college coaches, and I think the biggest change has been the culture. And also the fans! People are excited to come. The turnout my sophomore year was nothing. Last year, it was big.
Why do you love basketball?
I don’t know if I love basketball, it’s just that I need basketball. It’s a necessity for me to live properly. I guess that’s love, but it’s like eating or sleeping; I need to play basketball. What I love about basketball is the competitiveness, is going into a game with anxiety, and…doing all in your willpower to make something happen. And it’s really tangible – like if I get this steal, I’m helping my team, or if I get a turnover, I’m taking away from getting to that win.