On Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, Quakertown senior Miles Longacre was recognized for committing to continue his basketball career at Wilkes University. (Photos courtesy of Jen Banas/QCHS)
Miles Longacre – Wilkes University (Basketball)
Major: Finance
Reasons for choosing Wilkes: “It just seemed like the best match overall, not only for athletics but also academics. Coach Izzi (Metz) was really aggressive with his recruiting style, and I really appreciated that. It was a perfect fit for basketball, and the campus was really great.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “This has been a dream since I was probably five years old.”
What was your best memory competing in sports at Quakertown? “There were a lot of good moments over the seasons that we had. We had a great group of guys. Everyone was really determined, wanted to play and competed. Winning our two championships at the Salisbury Tournament was a big deal and also during the season - competing with your teammates, having good times and making memories was probably the biggest thing for me. I really appreciated all the memories I made with my teammates and my coaches.”
Coach Tony DaCosta says: “Miles Longacre – where do I start? We both arrived at Quakertown at the same time. Back in 2020 in the height of COVID, here we were together. One of the things that stands out about Miles is that he clearly had the ‘it’ factor, so it’s not something that is always readily known, but you know it when you see it, and it shows up immediately on the floor. We started open gyms in the fall, and he obviously had a real strong nose for the ball, so somehow the ball found him – offensive rebounds, getting baskets - to the point that the next time we had open gym, our senior class at that time said, ‘We can’t let Miles score.’ Clearly, he was embarrassing the people on the floor at that time, so they wanted to make sure that didn’t happen anymore. It didn’t help – he still got buckets, he still scored. I think that just showed the competitive spirit he had, which proved to serve him well.
“Unfortunately, he had a leg injury freshman year, so that derailed his season. I only mention that because he ended up finishing his career with 795 points. I’m pretty sure he could have squeezed out 205 points his freshman year. In any case, he averaged 7.7 points his sophomore year, and you could see his progress and development as he got better. His junior year, he averaged 15.8, and as a senior, he averaged 16.6, but his growth has not just been on the floor, but it’s also been off the floor. He’s not the most vocal leader, but he lets his game do the talking. He’s also been recognized by our league – he’s been Suburban One Liberty Division second team all-league two years in a row his junior and senior year. He’s made an impact, and he made quite an impression. When defenses start to scheme for you – you know you have their attention. He certainly got their attention, but more important, he got the attention of colleges and universities, which is why he will be attending Wilkes University. But beyond that, he’s also been a great individual. Wilkes University is not only getting a great basketball player, but they’re getting a great person.”
About Miles:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite music: Alternative Rock
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