HAMILTON — Hamilton High School junior guard Jillian Spurlock has verbally committed to play basketball at Miami, even though she knew offers from bigger schools were likely to come.

“I’ve always been attracted to Miami,” Spurlock said. ‘That’s the place I’ve always wanted to go. My mom (Cindi) and dad (Greg) went there, along with grandmas and grandpas and other generations.

“Plus it’s close to home, which is what I really like about it.”

Spurlock averaged 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.6 assists her junior season, helping lead Big Blue to a 13-10 record that included the team’s first trip to the sectional finals in 17 years.

She was voted first-team All-Greater Miami Conference, second-team All-Southwest District and was the JournalNews All-Area Player of the Year.

“I told her last week that if it were me, I would definitely sign and be done with it,” HHS athletic director Mike Dellapina said. “Now she can sit back and focus on her senior year. I am proud of her for making this great decision.”

Spurlock said Murray State and Lehigh were trying to arrange for her to take visits, and Indiana, Bowling Green and a few other Mid-American Conference schools also were showing interest.

“I don’t know if I would want to go to a big school,” she said. “Staying close was the biggest thing that led me to commit to Miami. It’s a relief. There won’t be any more stressing over anything. I can just enjoy my senior year.”

Spurlock owns a 3.4 GPA and said she is interested in majoring in exercise science or physical therapy.

She will play AAU ball this summer with the Cincinnati Heat.