“Paul McMillan, NBA first-round lottery pick.” The former Aiken High School standout recorded that greeting for his cell phone. Today, McMillan's formerly farfetched dream continues when he signs a Division I basketball letter with Loyola University (Ill.). Today marks the first day of the spring signing period.

        “I've come a long way,” McMillan said Tuesday. “If I produce like I know I can, the NBA is definitely a goal. I'm on the right track.”

        After his Aiken career (1996-99), the 6-foot-6, 240-pound McMillan landed at Miami University-Middletown.

        Eric Thomas, who coached McMillan at Aiken and later at Miami-Middletown, said McMillan has battled long odds.

        “He's a kid who was always a day from going to jail,” Thomas said. “It was the typical single-parent type of thing, tough life. He got into some drug issues, and he was almost sent away for six to nine months. But he got himself back together.”

        As a senior, McMillan led Aiken in scoring and rebounding (22.5 ppg, 13 rpg) and was special-mention all-state. He signed with Lincoln Trail Community College (Ill.) but was back home by Christmas. During the 2000-01 season, he played for Thomas at MU-Middletown.

        For 2001-02, McMillan was an assistant coach to Thomas, seeking to preserve two seasons of Division I eligibility. His brief stint at Lincoln Trail sapped one season.

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