Representing the city of High Point through and through, Carolina Core FC defender Aryeh Miller continues to make a name for himself at the national and international level. Despite being just 18 years old, the young star has already established himself as a player to watch not just for the future but for the present as well.
“It's a great feeling to come back home and play in High Point. After a few years of being away to be able to come back and play professionally, especially seeing people I know in the stands, which is an amazing feeling. Just being able to inspire the younger generation and give back feels great to do for my community.”
Born in High Point, NC, Miller has come through the soccer ranks in North Carolina starting off locally in the Piedmont Triad, before moving on to Greensboro United Soccer Association, now known as NC Fusion.
“From the ages of three to eight, I played at the Harley Davis YMCA off of North Main Street. That’s where my journey started, and then I moved on to Peruchos, which helped me make the step up to the club level.”
After playing travel soccer from a young age, Miller made his next step up to the U.S. Developmental Academy (DA) with NC Fusion. Following his time in the DA, Miller went to North Carolina FC to compete with their U15 Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team.
“I’m very grateful for the DA and ECNL programs I played in. At the time, it was the top flight of soccer nationally, which helped prepare me to play against the top talent in the region. Playing against that level of competition at a young age helped me grow and progress as a player and a person.”
In 2021, Miller made the official step up after joining Charlotte FC’s academy team in MLS NEXT. Representing the first step of the MLS player pathway, Aryeh proved to be a strong candidate for the newly founded league, as it was just a year old at that point. Making the move from playing locally in the Triad to exposure at the national level in Charlotte showed the willingness and desire of Miller to improve as a player and grow as a person.
After already experiencing an eventful 2021, that same year would prove to be even more fruitful for Miller, as he was handed his first international call-up to the U17 Liberian Men’s National Team. Making the jump to Charlotte FC’s Academy in MLS NEXT combined with his already impressive resume, made his call-up to the national team of his home country a well-deserved honor.
“The 2021 year was a big one for me. After COVID-19, I was training a lot, so the following season was a breakout year for me. Going to play with Charlotte FC as well as playing a year up, then getting called up to the U-17 Liberian National Team was something I’d dreamed about since I was young. It was a very special year for me, and I’m very blessed to have experienced that.”
Following the 2021 year, Miller continued playing with Charlotte FC’s MLS NEXT Academy and training with Crown Legacy FC before making his debut in MLS NEXT Pro during the 2023 season.
“Training with Crown Legacy definitely helped me a lot. Even though I didn’t play very much, being able to learn and compete in a professional environment helped me grow significantly. In what was the best team in MLS NEXT Pro at the time, I can say it has definitely helped me a lot in my transition here.”
Following his domestic and international success, Miller made the decision to sign his first professional contract and join a new independent club in the MLS NEXT Pro, Carolina Core FC. In conjunction with then 16-year-old Drake Hadeed, the High Point native was the first official signing of the club and served as an indicator of the serious intentions behind the club’s plans to compete in the league.
The start of the 2024 season was historic for Miller and CCFC alike, as Miller made his debut for his hometown club in an August matchup against Orlando City SC, helping to secure a very tough point on the road.
“Making my debut in that game was definitely a moment I’ll never forget. It felt like the work I was putting in was starting to come to light. Getting a point on the road was a great feeling in the locker room, especially against a tough team. I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I still understand there’s a lot of work to do.”
Following the Orlando City match, Miller would go on to start six consecutive matches, beginning against the club in which he made his MLS NEXT Pro debut with, Crown Legacy FC. The match would end with a 1-0 CCFC victory, with Miller playing the entire 90 minutes.
“The Crown Legacy FC was a special game for me. For that to be my first start for CCFC and have it come against my former team was really unique. The best part is that we came away with all three points, which made it even more special. This is one of the best memories I’ve made so far with this club!”
With great expectations heading into the new year, Miller has already surpassed another milestone as he was recently called into the Liberia Men’s National Team for the very first time. The young midfielder will now have the ability to show his unique skill set developed in High Point on the international stage.
