Alabama earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and freshman forward Brandon Miller played a huge role in its success.
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.
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It is worth noting that Miller was caught up in some controversy during the season, although he was not charged or suspended due to a murder case involving one of his teammates.
While that will certainly be a major talking point throughout the tournament, what would Miller bring to an NBA team next season?
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Brandon Miller strengths
Miller stands in at 6-9 with a 6-11 wingspan, giving him the prototypical height and length of an NBA wing. He's a marksman from 3-point range, able to knock down shots from all over the perimeter in a variety of ways.
Miller shot an impressive 40.1 percent from long range on a high volume of 7.6 3-point attempts per game.
On one possession, Miller will fly off of a screen for an open catch-and-shoot 3. On the next, he might serve as the screener and pop to the 3-point line where he only needs a split-second to get his shot off over the top of a recovering defender. Other times, he'll bring the ball up the floor and create his own shot off the bounce.
And as dangerous as he is from 3-point range, Miller is just scratching the surface of his potential as a three-level scorer. He has moments where he explodes to the basket and dunks with authority, showing his sneaky athleticism. He runs the lanes hard in transition, serving as a dual threat because he can dive to the rim for a lob or float to the wing or corner for 3.
On defense, he's competitive and disruptive, using his length to engulf opposing ballhandlers. He averaged 1.8 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game, getting his hands in passing or driving lanes and providing help as a shot blocker from the weak side. He'll be a versatile defender at the next level, capable of guarding 1-through-4.
Miller has all the makings of a No. 1 option and a future star in the NBA.
Brandon Miller weaknesses
Miller isn't shifty or innovative with the ball — he's more methodical when it comes to trying to create his own shot. The best scorers at the next level have no problem creating looks in isolation and that will be the next step in Miller's development as a prolific scoring offensive weapon.
He already knocks down tough looks without creating much space because of his height. He'll be even more terrifying when his handle improves and he has a little more shake to his game.
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Miller also needs to build up strength, which should come in due time for the 20-year-old. According to InStat, he only shot 45.7 percent inside the paint, struggling to attack off the bounce and finish through contact.
A little more weight and muscle will only bolster his versatility on the defensive end, allowing him to match up with more physical forwards as opposed to only guarding perimeter players.
Brandon Miller NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: No. 3 overall
In my latest Mock Draft, which was published after the NBA All-Star break, I had Miller going third overall. Debates have already started over the No. 2 pick, where some believe the Alabama star could overtake G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson as the second player off the board.
I'm a firm believer that Henderson is still the second-best player in this class. However, if a team that needs a scoring forward more than a guard (like Detroit or Charlotte) were to land the second pick, Miller is certainly in play at No. 2.
Brandon Miller NBA player comparison
Plays like: Brandon Ingram, Paul George
It's impossible to watch Miller's game and not see a little bit of Ingram in his natural ability to score from all over the floor with that size and length. However, it would be easy to believe if he watches a lot of George because his shooting form looks like a carbon copy of the Clippers All-Star wing.
