Darius Miles bitten by acting bug

Portland, OR - Although still slumping through a desolate NBA season with the felony-prone Portland Trailblazers, skinny forward Darius Miles' sights are set somewhere other than the court these days: in front of the camera. The movie camera that is. Miles has officially been bitten by the acting bug.

After playing himself in a 2002 episode of the HBO hit "Arliss," Miles impressed producers of Van Wilder, who asked him to come aboard the 2002 National Lampoon project and play himself again. "He did a good job playing himself on Arliss," one producer of Van Wilder noted, "so we brought him on to do it again for us." Miles delivered, nailing a sensational no-line performance as himself, a college basketball player. Stunt doubles were used, however, for the dunking scene due to NBA contract restrictions that limit players from partaking in dangerous activities off the court.

"I just, you know, really like actin' and all, you know what I'm sayin'? It's like, like you have to be on the camera and in front of it at the same time," said a glowing Miles in a 2002 interview on the set of Van Wilder.

Miles real break came in 2004 when he was cast as Desmond Rhodes in "The Perfect Score," a film about a group of teenage friends who conspire to cheat on the SAT. "He really nailed the role," said a praiseworthy Roger Ebert - yes, the film critic. When jokingly asked if he would ever do such a thing as steal the answers to the SAT exam, a surprisingly startled Miles replied, "Yeah, I mean, naw 'cuz if I steal somethin', it ain't gonna be that, 'cuz I wouldn't never take no SAT exam anyway."

Miles is reportedly on the casting shortlist for roles in several upcoming Hollywood projects, including "The Return of the Love Bug," the sequel to the 2005 summer hit "Herbie Fully Loaded," and "Desperate Times," a film about the Watergate conspiracy that brought down the Nixon Presidency.