Brandon Miller is praised by North Carolina Tar Heels coach after 4 OT thriller game against Alabama: “Brandon Miller is a pro, he’s a lottery pick”
Alabama Crimson Tide freshman Brandon Miller continues to be the talk of the NCAA. Coming into this season, Miller was ranked as the ninth overall high school prospect in ESPN's rankings.
Throughout the preseason, the hype surrounding Miller was building. Listed at 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, Miller has shown the offensive versatility to be a dangerous weapon. Not only does he have the outside shooting upside, Miller has also shown dangerous playmaking ability.
The talented freshman has been off to a strong start, averaging 19.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Miller is also shooting 40.0%, including 48.0% from 3-point range. He's gotten the attention of North Carolina Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis.
Alabama and North Carolina recently went toe-to-toe on Sunday as part of the Phil Knight Invitational. It ended with the Crimson Tide defeating the Tar Heels 103-101 in quadruple overtime. The game would be one of Miller's worst shooting performances of the year. He finished with 14 points on for-21 shooting and seven rebounds.
That didn't matter to Hubert Davis, who was blown away from the talent of the freshman wing:
"First of all, Brandon Miller is a pro. Plain and simple, period, the end. He’s a lottery pick.”
Alabama freshman Brandon Miller buzzing in the NCAA
The buzz surrounding Alabama Crimson Tide freshman Brandon Miller has started to get louder with each passing game. Heading into the Phil Knight Invitational, Miller was a player that NBA scouts were intrigued to get a look at.
In his first two games of the showcase, Miller averaged 21.0 ppg and 9.0 rpg. The shooting consistency will be something that NBA teams will monitor closely throughout the season. But Miller has shown that he has the potential to be a force on the offensive side of the floor.
Brandon Miller had himself a day against No. 12 Michigan State:
- 24 points
- 4-7 3PT
- 9 rebounds
Brandon is looking like the best freshman in college basketball 🔥 https://t.co/2Vmj8nnWDq
It's not often that a player gets the praise of an opposing coach, especially after a performance in which Miller struggled shooting. At 6-foot-9, Miller has the ideal size for an NBA wing, but his playmaking ability makes him a dangerous threat. Time will tell just how high Miller can climb in the eyes of NBA personnel.
Alabama (6-1), ranked 11th, will take on South Dakota State (3-4) on Saturday. After that, they will face the No. 1 team in the county in the Houston Cougars (6-0) on Dec. 10 after taking a break for midterm exams. That marquee showdown will give Miller another chance to showcase just how good he can be.