Brandon Miller entering NBA draft after one season at Alabama
Alabama men’s basketball forward Brandon Miller is entering the 2023 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Thursday.
Miller was projected in ESPN’s latest mock draft earlier this month as the No. 3 overall pick, and his decision to enter the draft after his freshman season had been widely expected for months.
Players have until April 23 to declare for the June 22 draft. Those signing with NCAA-certified agents have until May 31 to withdraw from the draft and retain college eligibility.
The other Alabama player who could enter the NBA draft is forward Noah Clowney. The 6-foot-10 freshman is ESPN’s No. 20 overall ranked player in the class, and was projected to be chosen No. 28 in the first round in ESPN’s early March mock draft.
Miller led the SEC in averaging 18.8 points per game and ranks 50th in Division I in scoring per game. He was voted as the SEC’s player of the year by coaches and the Associated Press, was the USBWA and NABC’s national freshman of the year, and Alabama’s second-ever consensus second-team All-American.
The five-star prospect from the Nashville area was a McDonald’s high school All-American and the son of former Alabama football player Darrell Miller.
Brandon Miller’s lone season in Tuscaloosa was one of the best in program history, both individually and for his team. Miller became the first Alabama player named an Associated Press first-team All-American since the organization began its lists in 1948, while the Tide finished No. 1 in the final AP poll, a program best.
But Miller played the final month of his college career under national scrutiny after a Feb. 21 court hearing revealed he and fellow freshman Jaden Bradley were at the scene of a Jan. 15 murder on the Tuscaloosa bar strip. Then-Alabama forward Darius Miles and his friend, Michael Davis, were charged with capital murder while Miller and Bradley were considered witnesses and were not charged.
But Miller, coach Nate Oats and Alabama’s administration all faced questions about their handling of the situation, with Oats apologizing for saying Miller was in the “wrong spot at the wrong time” the night of the murder. Law enforcement testified in court that Miles texted Miller to bring Miles’ handgun, which was in Miller’s vehicle, to the scene. Miller’s attorney released a detailed statement saying his client, “never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange to Mr. Davis in any way, and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur.”
After being named SEC tournament MVP, Miller struggled in Alabama’s three NCAA tournament games, including its Sweet 16 loss to San Diego State last Friday. He shot 8-of-41 in the tournament, or 19 percent. According to CBS Sports, he became the first player since at least 1960 to shoot under 20 percent on at least 40 attempts in an NCAA tournament.
Here is a look at Alabama’s offseason movement to date:
Scholarship players who have not announced any change to their status: Charles Bediako, Noah Clowney, Mark Sears, Jahvon Quinerly, Jaden Bradley, Rylan Griffen and Nick Pringle.
Alabama men’s basketball forward Brandon Miller is entering the 2023 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Thursday.
Miller was projected in ESPN’s latest mock draft earlier this month as the No. 3 overall pick, and his decision to enter the draft after his freshman season had been widely expected for months.
Players have until April 23 to declare for the June 22 draft. Those signing with NCAA-certified agents have until May 31 to withdraw from the draft and retain college eligibility.
The other Alabama player who could enter the NBA draft is forward Noah Clowney. The 6-foot-10 freshman is ESPN’s No. 20 overall ranked player in the class, and was projected to be chosen No. 28 in the first round in ESPN’s early March mock draft.
Miller led the SEC in averaging 18.8 points per game and ranks 50th in Division I in scoring per game. He was voted as the SEC’s player of the year by coaches and the Associated Press, was the USBWA and NABC’s national freshman of the year, and Alabama’s second-ever consensus second-team All-American.
The five-star prospect from the Nashville area was a McDonald’s high school All-American and the son of former Alabama football player Darrell Miller.
Brandon Miller’s lone season in Tuscaloosa was one of the best in program history, both individually and for his team. Miller became the first Alabama player named an Associated Press first-team All-American since the organization began its lists in 1948, while the Tide finished No. 1 in the final AP poll, a program best.
But Miller played the final month of his college career under national scrutiny after a Feb. 21 court hearing revealed he and fellow freshman Jaden Bradley were at the scene of a Jan. 15 murder on the Tuscaloosa bar strip. Then-Alabama forward Darius Miles and his friend, Michael Davis, were charged with capital murder while Miller and Bradley were considered witnesses and were not charged.
But Miller, coach Nate Oats and Alabama’s administration all faced questions about their handling of the situation, with Oats apologizing for saying Miller was in the “wrong spot at the wrong time” the night of the murder. Law enforcement testified in court that Miles texted Miller to bring Miles’ handgun, which was in Miller’s vehicle, to the scene. Miller’s attorney released a detailed statement saying his client, “never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange to Mr. Davis in any way, and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur.”
After being named SEC tournament MVP, Miller struggled in Alabama’s three NCAA tournament games, including its Sweet 16 loss to San Diego State last Friday. He shot 8-of-41 in the tournament, or 19 percent. According to CBS Sports, he became the first player since at least 1960 to shoot under 20 percent on at least 40 attempts in an NCAA tournament.
Here is a look at Alabama’s offseason movement to date:
| Incoming 2023 freshmen | Transfer portal additions | Transfer portal departures | NBA draft | Exhausted eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davin Cosby (signed/reclassified to 2022 and enrolled early) | Jaykwon Walton (Wichita St.) | Nimari Burnett (Michigan) | Brandon Miller | Noah Clowney |
| Sam Walters (signed) | Dom Welch | |||
| Mouhamed Dioubate (signed) | ||||
| Kris Parker (committed) |
Scholarship players who have not announced any change to their status: Charles Bediako, Noah Clowney, Mark Sears, Jahvon Quinerly, Jaden Bradley, Rylan Griffen and Nick Pringle.
