Brandon Miller quickly became one of the NBA’s elite draft candidates in his only season in Alabama.
He tops The Associated Press’s list of forwards and could move up to second in the standings behind suspected No. 1 pilot Victor Wembanyama. There are other one-time contenders like Villanova’s Cam Whitmore, Houston’s Jarace Walker and Central Florida’s Taylor Hendricks as potential top-10 picks.
Here’s a look at the top forwards in the draft:
BRANDON MILLER, Alabama
STRENGTHS: Miller, 20, transitioned from a McDonald’s All-American to an AP First Team All-American. The 1.90 meter tall forward averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds on shooting 38.4% from the 3-point area and 85.9% from the foul line. He also showed his skills play the dribbling or attack the rim, along with Quality play on defense behind the length to track multiple positions. It results in a mixture of shooting, sportiness and sized appropriately for today’s NBA game that demands versatility on the wing.
Concerns: He needs mass on a 200-pound frame to handle impact and physical play on both ends. He faded late after dealing with it a groin injuryincluding averaging 9.3 points in 8-for-41 shooting (19.5%) and 3-for-19 from 3-point range in three NCAA tournament games as the Crimson Tide fell into the Sweet 16 despite being the top seed overall.
There are also his ties to an important extrajudicial issue: a murder case involving former Tide player Darius Miles and another man is charged for murder allegations. A police investigator testified in February that Miles texted Miller to bring him his gun that night. However, Miller was not accused of any wrongdoing and he continued to play the ongoing case brought intensive review through the second half of the season about Miller and the Alabama program.
CAM WHITMORE, Villanova
STRENGTHS: The McDonald’s All-American started the season late due to thumb surgery, but became the Big East Freshman of the Year. Whitmore, who turns 19 in July, has an NBA-qualified build (about 6-6 barefoot, 235 pounds) and the athleticism to attack while dribbling. In the NBA Combine, he placed third in the maximum vertical jump (40.5 inches). And he shot 37.3% on 3-pointers after being a regular in the last 20 games.
CONCERNS: He shot just 65.9% at the foul line as a starter and didn’t consistently create chances, having almost as many games without tries (six) as games with three or more tries (seven).
JARACE WALKER, Houston
STRENGTHS: The McDonald’s All-American participated in Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars program, which is built on defense, rebounding and toughness — a formula that’s usually better suited to older players. Yet the 6-7 striker fit perfectly as a 250 lb present. At the NBA Combine, he achieved a wingspan of more than 7:2, placed third in the standing vertical jump (34.5 inches) and ninth in the maximum vertical jump (38.0). Walker, 19, is strong enough to fight larger opponents and agile enough to switch to wings.
CONCERNS: Walker’s stroke is still developing. He shot 34.7% from 3-point range and only 66.3% from the foul line.
TAYLOR HENDRICKS, Central Florida
STRENGTHS: The four-star recruit was an upset, averaging 15.1 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 47.8% from the field and 78.2% from the line. Notably, he had a 39.4% shooting efficiency behind the archway and failed to score a 3 in just four of 33 games. With a height of just over 6-8 without shoes at the combine he was Hendricks has athleticism and length (better than a 7ft wingspan) which could help him become a two-way power forward for tonight’s ground game.
Concerns: The 19-year-old needs strength for a lean 213-pound frame. He’s also faced an AP Top 25 opponent twice all season, which gives just a taste of how he’ll handle top-flight competition.
MORE INFORMATION
-GRADEY DICK: The Kansas one-and-done winger made 40.3% of 3-pointers as a potential lottery pick of who can clear the floor and possibly play as a guard. The 19-year-old performed better than 6-6 barefoot in the NBA combine, although his minutes could depend on how he performs defensively.
— BILAL COULIBALY: Wembanyama’s teammate in France offers his own fascinating skills. The athletic 6-8 winger, who is only 18, is a first-round contender with disruptive defender potential and the potential to become a good 3-point shooter.
— GG JACKSON: The 18-year-old was set to become the top pick in the country this season in North Carolina. Instead, he signed up early and played one sometimes frustrating season in South Carolina. The first-round contender has a 6-8 frame with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, athleticism, and shooting potential.
— KRIS MURRAY: The twin brother of Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray more than doubled his score in Iowa last season (20.2, up from 9.7). The winger, who had a nearly 6-8 span at the combine and a nearly 7-foot wingspan, turns 23 in August, has hit 35% of his 3s over the past two seasons and could end up in the back half of the first round .
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