Former Indiana University basketball player Miller Kopp visited Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sunday to talk about his faith and basketball.
Pastor John Van Huys interviewed Kopp covering a range of topics in a casual setting in front of several attendees.
Kopp, who is an excellent communicator, entertained the audience with a quick wit and an inspirational message.
The Houston, Texas native played three years at Northwestern University before entering the NCAA transfer portal with a desire to finish his career somewhere other than in the Big 10. Kopp said the physical play in the conference takes a toll on a player’s body and he was ready for a fresh start.
Two phone calls changed his mind.
“I really wanted to stay out of the Big 10,” Kopp said. “Until I got a phone call from an I.U. assistant coach that they would be interested in me. That got my attention.”
At the time I.U. had not announced Mike Woodson as the new coach so the shooting guard still was not sure about moving to Bloomington. That changed when Woodson called him.
“I had Googled Coach Woody and found out all the great things about him,” Kopp said. “When he called, I made up my mind that the opportunity to play at I.U. was too good to pass up.”
Because Kopp was a starter at Northwestern during his time in Evanston, Illinois, he became the all-time leader in Big 10 games played after playing two seasons for the Hoosiers.
The first season at I.U. did not go as smoothly as the transfer had hoped. He was playing, but his results were not what he was accustomed to. He was going through all the motions of trying to be the best he could be. His effort was to please coaches, fans, and himself. His focus was on everything about basketball which added to the pressure.
“It was exhausting placing all my joy and energy into basketball and trying to just prove myself,” Kopp said.
Kopp said things started to change after a chance meeting with an elderly man during the offseason last year in Naples, Florida.
“I met a stranger on the beach, and we just ended up talking in his house for about six hours,” Kopp said. “We talked about my faith, and I ended up giving my life to Christ.”
Kopp said at that moment his life expectations changed along with his attitude.
“Giving my life to Jesus changed my perspective,” Kopp said. “It was a relief and a weight off my shoulders when I realized I didn’t have to worry about what happens on the court.”
“I realized I am not a basketball player only and now I am playing for an audience of one. I play for God,” Kopp said.
The change in the player’s attitude was evident this past season when the Hoosiers played at Northwestern where fans showed a lot of hostility toward their one-time player. Ferocious chanting throughout the game directed toward Kopp was unsettling for the 23-year-old.
“I could not understand the way they were treating me,” Kopp said. “It bothered me because I felt like I had given my all to them for three years.”
Kopp, who has 30,000 followers on his popular Twitter account, said in the past he might not have reacted appropriately to the derogatory chanting.
After returning to Bloomington and some prayer he simply tweeted the following day “My family loves me. My teammates love me, and God loves me.”
“I realized I could show empathy for someone who feels they need to do that to someone,” Kopp added.
Kopp hopes to continue his basketball career playing professionally at any level. No matter what he does, one thing won’t change in the personable young man.
“My confidence is in God, and I truly believe God is in control,” Kopp said. “I will be thankful for the opportunities I have and see them as a reward. I play for an audience of one.”
