#3 Brandon Miller
Height: 6’9
Weight: 200 pounds
School: Alabama
Position: SF
Class: Freshman
WHO
Brandon Miller’s rise to the top of most mock drafts has taken many by surprise. In his senior year of high school, the Cane Ridge (TN) forward was Tennessee's highest-ranking player, and the fourteenth highest-ranked player in the nation. Despite receiving offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Kansas, Miller chose Alabama, which is unconventional for such an exciting prospect like Miller. Alabama is not a blue blood, and thus, his ranking dropped significantly.
Before Alabama’s incredible run to the SEC regular title and the SEC Championship, Miller was a mid-to-late first-round pick. But after an incredible run of form, like his 41-point performance at South Carolina, or a clutch marquee win against LSU where he scored 31. He was good; so good that he won the SEC Player of the Year Award and was a second-team All-America in his freshman year. His involvement in the shooting that killed 23-year-old James Jonae Harris and the lack of details surrounding it could be a turn-off for many NBA execs who prefer a player who might not cause any problems.
His form also regressed in the NCAA Tournament, where prospects’ stocks rose and plummet with each passing hour. Miller scored no points in 19 minutes of action against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, but put up 19 points to help Alabama past Maryland to make the Sweet 16. Against eventual finalists San Diego State, Miller scored nine points from an atrocious 3-19 shooting while also conceding six turnovers. He seemed terrible in the tournament, and it left scouts wondering where Miller stood up against prospects like Scoot Henderson, the Thompson twins, and more. However, most consider Miller a top-three prospect who could reasonably go for the #2 pick depending on the franchise that picks him.
Miller is a lanky winger who can shoot threes but also beat defenders and slash to the rim. He grabs rebounds and controls tempo and possession while also spinning and twirling past defenders with a dizzying array of crossovers and spin moves. Many have likened him to the Suns’ Kevin Durant or the Clippers’ Paul George thanks to their similar skill set and build, but many do not recognize Miller’s utter athleticism that may rival many top-tier NBA players.
There was the two-handed flush over a helpless Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk as he fought off fellow draft prospect GG Jackson on his way to the rim. There was the time he converted a tough fadeaway while Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler fouled him. There was the Jahvon Quinerly-sent lob that Brandon Miller emphatically slammed into the rim, with his head nearly touching the rim.
There are enough viral-worthy, coma-inducing highlights that can’t all be listed here, but the point is he can finish through contact, in the paint, from range. When he has a good day, defenders cannot stop him. Not only is he proficient offensively, but he’s solid defensively. On his Alabama team, he was a key defensive cog, averaging nearly one steal and one block per game.
However, unlike Victor Wembanyama and Henderson, Miller might not have that burst and explosiveness that separates college-level scorers and NBA stars. He takes bad shots often, is not a very big playmaker, and is older (21) than the typical freshman. But other than that, Miller is certainly an exciting prospect and one to watch.
WHY
There’s a very good chance that, if the Rockets get to the #2 pick in the NBA Draft, they could choose Miller over Henderson. Miller would be a nice replacement for the Rockets’ Kenyon Martin Jr, whose future is still undecided going into the summer. If the Rockets decided to take the ball-dominant Henderson, it would not be a good fit. Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green are all ball-dominant guards, and adding another one to the mix would not help on or off the court.
Teams like Detroit and Indiana would be a great fit for him, so it’s only a question of the lottery to see whether Henderson goes up after Wembanyama or whether it will be Miller.
PRO SCOUT QUOTES
A big time wing prospect with huge upside who looks to be on the fast track to the NBA. A possible lottery pick. Miller is tough to defend. He can shoot over guards and take bigger defenders off the dribble and use his crafty handles to get to the rim or get his shot from mid range.
NBA Draft Room
In a draft class where most of the top picks didn’t go the conventional college route, Alabama forward Brandon Miller stands apart. Miller is averaging 19.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for a Crimson Tide team that is the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Miller is a special offensive player, and the fact that he was the 2023 SEC Player of the Year — and a consensus second-team All-American — says everything you need to know about the kind of year he’s having.
Zachary Cohen, Real GM
An extremely talented 6’9 SF/PF with a lanky frame and very good length and athleticism … Has an intriguing scoring arsenal (leads all Fr with 18.8 ppg while shooting 45% from the field) … Can shoot over many wings due to his size and can also operate in the mid-range and occasionally in the post as well.
NBADraft.net
The Alabama freshman has great size as a combo forward that can play on the perimeter as a true wing or as a modern power forward. He’s the ideal build for the positionless NBA where versatility is key. Despite being a tall forward, Miller has a very smooth jumper. He can hit jump shots moving off the bounce or in rhythm. He’s pretty good at generating his own shot, which will translate nicely given how isolation heavy the NBA is.
Sports Illustrated
It didn't take long for Miller to establish himself as the best NBA prospect in college basketball. Most preseason Mock Drafts had the star freshman projected to go in the mid-to-late first round but it only took a few weeks for talent evaluators to realize the sharpshooting 6-9 wing has all the tools to succeed at the next level. Miller has been unstoppable for Alabama, averaging 19.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks on .451/.401/.856 shooting splits this season. His efforts earned him SEC Player of the Year — the first freshman to win the award outright since Kentucky's Anthony Davis back in 2012.
Kyle Irving, Sporting News
