Miles and Miles

This archived article was written by: Travon Langston and Kameron King

Travon Langston
sports writer
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Having family who either played in professional sports or are playing in professional sports may be a factor in Miles Gatewood’s athletic ability. Gatewood is from Portland, Ore. He has one brother that is a freshman in college and also plays basketball. He lives with his mother, Janice, and his father, Gary.
He has a cousin in the NBA, Austin Daye, who plays for the Detroit Pistons. His father is a professional cameraman. He helped with movies such as the PJ’s, Paranorman and Coraline. He also played in the NBA for the Seattle Sonics and the NFL for a short time with the Dallas Cowboys. Gatewood’s mother is a hair stylist; he said she cuts his hair all the time.
Gatewood went to Westview High School where he played basketball and averaged 16 points as a senior, and helped take his team to the 6A state championship his junior and senior years. Unfortunately, his team lost to the same team both years. Gatewood remarked, “Even though we lost to the same team both years, it was a great experience and I wouldn’t change that for anything.” Having a successful high school career, Gatewood earned Second Team All-State, and First Team All-Metro.
Gatewood played a lot of summer basketball. He said the best thing about playing summer ball is, “Traveling to different states, it is always a great experience. You get to see different parts of the United States, and that alone is a blessing.” He traveled to Virginia, California, Nevada, Texas, Washington, and Arizona for tournaments. His freshman year in college, he attended Missouri State West Plains where he averaged 10 points a game and the team went 22-10.
He transfered to USU Eastern to be closer to home, and play in the SWAC conference. When talking about players intimidating him, Gatewood replied, “Yes, there is one person, Todd Helgesen.” Gatewood said that Helgesen was a fierce player. “He is an animal on the court, he grabs rebounds, dives on the floor, he is just an absolute beast. One time he blocked me so hard, I fell. I get nervous when I have to play against Todd in practice. He takes no prisoners.” Gatewood is thankful to be on a team with him, because he never gives up, he does the little things that take no talent. “That’s what I like about him the most.”
Gatewood’s hobbies are hanging with family and friends, listening to music and watching football. After this school year, he plans on moving to a D1 school. After that, he hopes to go overseas to play basketball.

Kameron King
sports writer
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Miles Gatewood is a member of the 2012-13 men’s basketball team at Utah State University Eastern. Gatewood is an outstanding ball player, and a contributing member of the program. You can tell his passion and love for the game is crazy. . . good crazy. He puts in hours and hours at the gym everyday improving shots, defense and ball handling.
Growing up he said he loved, and always played both football and basketball. Getting older he felt like he was better at football, but his parents pressured him into focusing on basketball.
As he started focusing on basketball he played on a traveling AAU team year around, traveling all over the U.S. One big memory that Gatewood said he will never forget, was having the chance to play in back-to-back state championship games in basketball. He says that was for sure one of the best feelings he has ever had.
As a freshman in college he played ball in Missouri, and decided to come to USU Eastern afterwards. Coming here, he became a star on and off the court. He has put up big points and assists and contributes every day on the court.
In his journey in life he has met NBA legend Jerry West in person, and he admires his cousin, NBA player, Austin Daye.