Brandon Miller Scouting Report: 2023 NBA Draft
By: Bryce Williams
There has been great speculation on what the Hornets will do with the second overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Scoot Henderson has been widely regarded as the second-best player in this class. With LaMelo Ball already on the roster and looking to sign an extension, media members have shifted focus to the best Freshman in college basketball: Brandon Miller.
THE BASICS:
Name: Brandon Miller
Position: Wing
Team: Alabama
Age: 20
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 200 lbs
THE GOOD:
Miller was the consensus best Freshman in basketball last year. Miller was incredibly efficient from three, shooting 38.7 percent on almost 8 attempts per game. In a very fast-paced offense at Alabama, Miller consistently created threes for himself both off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot scenarios. He has the ideal size and length for an NBA wing and has positional versatility on both ends. Defensively, he did not stand out, but his long arms should be able to deter passes and make it tough for opponents to finish at the rim. The Alabama offense consisted of a heavy pick-and-roll dosage, and Miller showed good decision-making as a passer and scorer. Miller was commonly placed on the wing and attacked closeouts quickly in order to get downhill. When driving to the rim, he showed flashes of elite vision, swinging passes to the opposite corner for open threes. His passing ability will continue to grow as he gets more opportunities at the next level.
THE BAD:
Although he was fully cooperative and does not face any legal repercussions, Brandon Miller’s name is still going to be heavily involved in court. During this past season at Alabama, Miller unknowingly couriered a gun to former teammate Darius Miles, which later resulted in a murder. His name has been cleared of any wrongdoings, but it is hard to ignore the off-the-court drama that engulfed the Alabama basketball team last season. Regarding his play on the court, Miller got stonewalled when he tried to create non-threes for himself off the dribble. He is able to attack closeouts and get to the rim, but when he gets into the paint, he is not creative enough to get around big men. In many instances last year, Miller did not come through in the big moments. He had poor showings in the NCAA Tournament, and his performance is part of the reason why the Number 1 Seeded Crimson Tide could not get past San Diego State.
PRO COMPARISON:
Brandon Miller’s game resembles a modern Danny Granger. He’s an elite shooter from the wing position with the potential to create for himself and others.
CONCLUSION:
Brandon Miller is easily the best wing in this class. I think he is NBA-ready from day one and is a seamless fit into any team’s offense. His name is being mocked to the Hornets at the number 2 overall pick, and he will be able to slot in nicely on the wing as a complimentary piece to LaMelo Ball. He is an elite shooter with All-NBA upside, Brandon Miller is a sure-fire top-five pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
