[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Jordan Miller
Frame: 6’7″, 195 lbs
Position: Forward
Team: University of Miami (FL)
2023 Draft Age: 23
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Miller was one of the top players this year in transition. Using his athleticism and IQ, he had an impressive impact on his Hurricane squad. His ability to attack from the wings or beat his man straight to the basket off the dribble saw him convert shots inside the arc at almost 55 percent.

His feel in the flow of the offense and ability to see points of attack has freed up space for his teammates as well. Drawing defenders with him on cuts, Miller can make the quick kick-out pass to a shooter or take the contact and finish at a high level on his own. He also makes solid post-entry passes that only his teammate can receive and operate with the intent to score.

Miller’s overall handle needs to improve, as his inconsistency with the ball limits his ability to create for himself. He can handle the ball in a pinch situation as a second or third option, but he should not be a first-option handler. Though he played wherever Miami needed him during his time with the team, he is a better fit on the wings.

His leaping ability and athleticism led to few looks on ball-out-of-bounds lob plays—whether a teammate screened his defender to free him up or he took advantage of a size mismatch, Miller could catch for the dunk.

Driving to the basket is an area that can improve, as well as adding muscle to his frame to take more contact. If contact is not in his path, Miller occasionally moves well without the ball.

He uses his frame to box out well on the offensive glass, securing the second-most offensive rebounds on the team behind Norchad Omier, who manned the paint for the Hurricanes.

Miller is that jack-of-all-trades type who does the dirty work—first to the basketball, out-hustling the competition. Though most of his scoring came in the open court and off-ball looks, if Miller improves his three-point shooting, he may be able to raise his ceiling at the next level.

 

 

Defense

Miller shines as a multi-positional defender (1-4). Whether on the perimeter or within the arc, he picks up off-ball schemes well and can recover quickly enough in help to make up for missed rotations by teammates. Miller also studied his scouting reports and was usually matched up against the opponent’s best offensive player.

His length allows him to disrupt and get into passing lanes. Miller processed what he saw on the court at a high level (showing his understanding of scouting reports in real-time), helping when his teammates had breakdowns in coverage.

Miller can lead the break if necessary, though he usually will outlet and fill after securing the ball.

He’ll need to limit his mistakes and hang his hat on the defensive end at the outset of his career. At 23, teams should see a player just about fully formed.

Looking Ahead

As the vocal and emotional leader of the Hurricanes this year, Miller motivated his teammates to succeed. His encouragement led to a Final Four berth after making the Elite Eight the previous season. His ability to impact the game on both ends, paired with his versatility, has him projecting to be a great fit at the next level.

Miller’s motor was the driving force behind his success. How he paced himself on the court and ran his lanes in transition has made him the glue that held his teams together the previous two seasons while helping achieve new program milestones.

Though Miller is an older prospect, he still can carve out a role for himself. Bruce Brown Jr. (also a former Hurricane) is a similar type who can contribute beyond the box score as a connector on a winning team. Josh Richardson is another comparable rangy defender who has been in the league for eight years, made an All-Conference team during his senior season at Tennessee, and has found a steady role for himself.