Nigel Miguel

Early life

Miguel was born in British Honduras, now known as Belize, and grew up in Belize City. His formative years were spent in Southern California, after his family left Belize when he was six. They settled in Los Angeles, and moved to Pacoima when he was 13. He played basketball at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. As a 6-foot-6-inch (1.98 m) senior forward in 1981, he led his team to a 19-5 overall record and the Del Rey League championship. Miguel averaged 23.1 points and 10.0 rebounds and was named to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) 4A first-team. He also earned McDonald's All-American honors.

College career

Miguel decided to attend college at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) over the University of Southern California (USC), their crosstown rival. He was recruited to UCLA by coach Larry Brown; however, Brown left after the 1980–81 season, and Miguel played under coach Larry Farmer for his first three seasons. He became the first Belizean to play in Division I sports. His play was disappointing; in his junior year in 1983–84, he averaged only 4 points a game with a field goal percentage of just 39.8%.

Walt Hazzard became the UCLA coach in Miguel's senior year. After playing at both forward and guard under Farmer, he was moved to point guard by Hazzard. In his final season, Miguel became a defensive stopper, and defended the opponents' best scorer. His scoring also improved to an average of 12 points while shooting 48.6%. Miguel earned All-Pac-10 honors and was also named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year while helping lead the Bruins to the 1985 National Invitation Tournament championship. He graduated from UCLA in 1985 with a degree in political science.

Professional career

Miguel tried out for the New Jersey Nets (now known as the Brooklyn Nets) of the National Basketball Association (NBA) after they selected him in the third round of the 1985 NBA draft with the 62nd overall pick. After the guard was cut by the Nets in training camp, he joined the La Crosse Catbirds, a new team in the CBA. He played all 48 games in the regular season while shooting 48.2% and averaging 17.5 points, and earned All-CBA rookie team honors as a point guard. He finished second on the team behind former NBA player Paul Thompson in scoring, and was also runner-up behind former NBA player Michael Adams for CBA Rookie of the Year. Miguel improved in the playoffs, when he shot 50.6% and averaged 21.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals. La Crosse advanced to the championship round against the Tampa Bay Thrillers, but he missed the first two games with a pulled hamstring and played the remainder of the series hurt; the Catbirds lost to the Thrillers 4–1.

After receiving invitations to training camp from multiple NBA teams in 1986–87, Miguel settled on the Nets' two-year contract offer over the Los Angeles Lakers' one-year deal. The timing seemed ideal for Miguel, as the Nets were without any of their guards from the prior season. However, Miguel broke a bone in his left heel during the final week of camp, and he was released by New Jersey after being paid the one guaranteed year from his contract. He returned to the Nets in 1987–88, but he was slower after his injury, and again was cut. Miguel lost the desire to continue playing, and his basketball career ended.

Entertainment career

While out of basketball with his foot injury, Miguel secured an agent to pursue an acting career. Using his athletic skills and basketball talents, he landed acting roles. In late 1987, Miguel had a small role in a commercial for Reebok, and others followed, including spots for Converse, Nike and Pepsi. In 1991, he won the role of Dwight the Flight in the movie White Men Can't Jump. He has appeared in numerous other Hollywood and television movies, as well as television series. Miguel also spent seven years as the body double for Michael Jordan. Additionally, he has served as a basketball technical advisor on movies including Space Jam, Elizabethtown, and Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault, as well as an adviser for Nike commercials.

Since 1995, Miguel has owned II Jam Casting & Production, a production company which places athletes and musicians in commercial and films. The company has worked with individuals such as athletes Jordan, LeBron James, and Shaquille O'Neal as well as musician Snoop Dogg and director Philip Atwell.

Ambassador for Belize

The Belize government in 1994 appointed Miguel as its first goodwill ambassador to the United States. He was tasked with promoting jobs for the youth of Belize, and encouraging U.S. companies to establish branch offices and franchises in Belize. In 2008, the government elevated Miguel to Film Commissioner for the Government of Belize to promote and enhance the country's film industry locally and abroad. The position had been vacant since the death of Emory King.