Brandon Miller (basketball, born 2002)

Brandon Jordan Miller (born November 22, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class.

Brandon Miller
Miller with Alabama in 2023
No. 24 – Alabama Crimson Tide
PositionSmall forward / Shooting guard
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (2002-11-22) November 22, 2002
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolCane Ridge
(Antioch, Tennessee)
CollegeAlabama (2022–2023)
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

Miller grew up in Antioch, Tennessee, and attended Cane Ridge High School.[1] He was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 23.3 points, eight rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 2.3 steals per game during his junior season.[2][3] Miller repeated as the Gatorade Player of the Year and was named Tennessee Mr. Basketball as a senior after averaging 24.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.[4] He also played in the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald's All-American Game.[5]

Recruiting

Miller was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class, according to major recruiting services. His first scholarship offer was from Tennessee State who are coached by his cousin, Brian Collins.[6] On November 1, 2021, Miller committed to playing college basketball for Alabama after considering offers from Kansas and Tennessee State.[7][8] He also considered playing professionally in Australia NBL or the G League Ignite.[9]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Brandon Miller
SF		 Antioch, TN Cane Ridge (TN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Nov 1, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 92
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 17  247Sports: 14  ESPN: 9
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Alabama 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  • "2022 Alabama Crimson Tide Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.

College career

Miller was named to the Naismith College Player of the Year and Julius Erving Award watch lists entering his freshman season at Alabama.[10][11] On November 21, 2022, Miller earned his first Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Week honor.[12] On December 17, 2022, Miller scored 36 points and six rebounds against Gonzaga.[13] He posted an Alabama freshman-record 41 points on February 22, 2023, in a 78–76 overtime win against South Carolina.[14] Miller was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 SEC men's basketball tournament after averaging 20.3 points and 11 rebounds over three games.[15] He finished the season averaging an SEC-high 18.8 points per game and also averaged 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists.[16]

At the end of the regular season, Miller was named the SEC Player of the Year, the SEC Rookie of the Year, and first-team All-Conference.[17] He was a consensus second-team All-American selection after being selected to the first teams of the Associated Press and Sporting News and the second teams of NABC and USBWA selections.[18] Miller was also named the USBWA National Freshman of the Year and the NABC Freshman of the Year.[19][16]

Miller would struggle in the NCAA Tournament, shooting just 19% from the field in Alabama's three games, the worst percentage by any player with 35 shot attempts in the tournament since 1985.[20] Alabama would fall in the third round of the tournament to San Diego State, with Miller going 3-19 from the floor.[20] After the season Miller announced that he would forgo the remainder of his collegiate eligibility and enter the 2023 NBA draft.[21]

Personal life

Miller's father, Darrell Miller, played college football at Alabama as a tight end.[22] His older brother, Darrell Jr., played college basketball at Fisk University and professionally overseas. Miller's older sister plays at Cumberland University.[23]

Firearm incident

On February 21, 2023, a Tuscaloosa police officer testified that Miller brought a firearm to teammate Darius Miles that was used in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris in Tuscaloosa earlier that year.[24][25] According to Miller's attorney, Miles had left the gun in Miller's vehicle after Miller dropped Miles off at a club. As Miller was on his way back to pick up Miles, Miles texted Miller, requesting that Miller bring Miles's gun. When Miller arrived, Miles told his friend Michael Davis that the gun was in the vehicle. Davis retrieved the gun and shot into a vehicle in which Harris was a passenger, while Harris's boyfriend returned fire, resulting in two bullets striking Miller's car. Miller's attorney stated that Miller had no knowledge of any intent to use the weapon.[26] According to the Tuscaloosa police officer's testimony, while Miles and Davis initially lied to officers about the incident, Miller’s account of the shooting almost exactly matched what investigators gathered from video evidence and other witness testimony.[27] Tuscaloosa County chief deputy district attorney Paula Whitley stated Miller faces no charges as a result of the incident.[26]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Alabama 373732.6.430.384.8598.22.1.9.918.8

References
  1. "Brandon Miller, Cane Ridge headed to first basketball state tournament". The Tennessean. March 9, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  2. "KU Jayhawks basketball recruit Brandon Miller will pick college or pros next week". The Kansas City Star. October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  3. "Brandon Miller, Lashae Dwyer named Tennessee Gatorade basketball players of the year". The Tennessean. June 4, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  4. Windham, Kate (January 25, 2022). "Alabama Signees Jaden Bradley, Brandon Miller Named McDonald's All-Americans". SI.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  5. "Brandon Miller named Tennessee Gatorade boys basketball player of year". The Tennessean. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.I
  6. "Brandon Miller on G-League, TSU, not picking Tennessee Vols basketball". The Tennessean. September 8, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. Borzello, Jeff (November 1, 2021). "Top-15 forward Brandon Miller gives Alabama Crimson Tide second five-star commitment for 2022". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  8. "Brandon Miller commits to Alabama basketball: 5-star from Cane Ridge". The Tennessean. November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  9. "Cane Ridge's Brandon Miller narrows top-four". The Tennessean. September 3, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  10. Potter, Charlie (November 7, 2022). "UA's Brandon Miller named to Naismith Trophy preseason watch list". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  11. "Alabama Guard Brandon Miller Named to Julius Erving Award Watch List". SI.com. October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  12. Smith, Mason (November 21, 2022). "Brandon Miller Named SEC Freshman of The Week". No. November 21, 2022. Bama Central. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  13. "Gonzaga vs. Alabama - Men's Basketball 2022". ESPN. ESPN. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  14. Rothstein, Michael (February 24, 2023). "Nate Oats defends Alabama response: 'Taking it very seriously'". ESPN. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  15. Alvarez, Nick (March 14, 2023). "Alabama star Brandon Miller named most valuable player in SEC tournament". AL.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  16. Carter, Mo (March 28, 2023). "Brandon Miller named NABC Freshman of the Year". RocketCityNow.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  17. "Alabama's Brandon Miller named top SEC player by coaches, AP". ESPN.com. March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  18. Rodak, Mike (March 15, 2023). "Brandon Miller is Alabama's second-ever consensus second-team All-American". AL.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  19. Rodak, Mike (March 21, 2023). "Alabama's Brandon Miller named national freshman of the year by USBWA". AL.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  20. Nasser, Reese (March 24, 2023). "Alabama's Brandon Miller hits rock bottom never seen in NCAA tournament history". MSN. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  21. Wojnarowski, Adrian (March 30, 2023). "Alabama freshman Brandon Miller entering 2023 NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  22. "Brandon Miller: Alabama basketball star grew up Tide fan in Tennessee". Tuscaloosa News. January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  23. O'Neil, Dana (January 25, 2023). "How Brandon Miller, Alabama basketball's star freshman, is mixing promise, production". The Athletic. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  24. "Police: Tide's Miller delivered gun used in shooting". ESPN.com. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  25. "Alabama hoops star delivered gun in shooting, police say". AP NEWS. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  26. "Brandon Miller 'never touched the gun' used in Darius Miles capital murder case, attorney says". al.com.
  27. "Alabama Basketball Alabama AD: Nate Oats did not have complete information about Brandon Miller". al.com.
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