Murray State University Athletics
Racers Boost Backcourt By Signing Adam Chiles
5/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Adam Chiles, a 6-foot guard from Vincennes University, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Murray State next season, Racer head coach Mick Cronin announced Thursday.
Chiles, who played his freshman season at the University of Kentucky, led Vincennes to a 25-8 record last season as a sophomore. A native of Louisville who attended Ballard High School, Chiles will have two years of eligibility at MSU.
"He's an explosive guard that can create offense off the dribble, which is something this team needs at the guard position," said Cronin, who was hired as MSU's 13th head coach on April 5. "He's my kind of guy in that he has great toughness on both ends of the floor. He led his team to a state championship in high school and he's a proven winner."
Last year at Vincennes, Chiles averaged 13.5 points per game while starting 17 of 32 games at the Indiana junior college. His best game of the season came against No. 1-ranked and eventual national junior college champion Southeastern Iowa Community College. In handing Southeastern Iowa its only defeat of the season, Chiles scored a career-high 48 points on 8-of-9 shooting from three-point range.
"Adam had his team on an 11-game winning streak and heading into the national tournament until he was injured," said Cronin.
At Kentucky, Chiles saw action in 16 of the Wildcats' 32 games, averaging 5.3 minutes per game. His freshman season was highlighted by solid play against Duke and Indiana and Cronin says his time in Lexington should make for an easy adjustment to Division I basketball.
"He's a very experienced player. He played in some big games at Kentucky while he was there and he's played under two good coaches in Tubby Smith (UK) and Dan Sparks (Vincennes)," Cronin said.
In high school, Chiles enjoyed a standout career under head coach Chris Renner at Ballard where he scored 1,293 career points and helped the Bruins to a three-year record of 90-13. As a senior he averaged 16.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.1 steals. He led the Bruins, who were ranked first in the state for much of the season and as high as third nationally by USA Today, to a 32-2 record in 2001.
Chiles was named first-team All-State by both the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader and a second-team pick by The Associated Press. Following his senior season, he was a member of the Kentucky All-Star and Derby Festival teams. Chiles was a key reserve during his sophomore campaign, averaging 8.5 ppg as the Bruins captured the 1999 KHSAA Sweet 16 Championship.
Chiles is the third signee for the Racers this season. He joins 6-10 center Pearson Griffith from Murray State (Okla.) Junior College who signed with the Racers last fall, and 6-7 forward Kelvin Brown of Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College who signed with MSU on May 6.
