Fresh off Final Four, VA-native Jordan Miller chasing his NBA dream
VA-native Jordan Miller chasing NBA dream originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Jordan Miller has the unusual distinction of having played for legendary coach Jim Larrañaga and at George Mason University, but not at the same time.
After growing up in Middleburg, VA where he won a state championship at Loudon Valley High School, Miller went on to play three years at GMU in Fairfax. His head coach, Dave Paulsen, was fired and afterward, Miller entered the transfer portal.
That's when Larrañaga, who left George Mason for the University of Miami in 2011, came calling. It was 2021 and COVID measures were still a significant factor in the recruiting process. So, they met over Zoom and that's how Miller saw the campus and the wonder of South Beach... virtually.
Little did he know two years later he would star for the Hurricanes team that brought Larrañaga back to the Final Four.
"In no way shape or form did I know we were going to be that good. I just took a chance," Miller told NBC Sports Washington.
Now Miller is aiming to take the next step as a basketball player and reach the NBA. He is projected to go in the second round, which could result in him playing close to home.
The Washington Wizards have two selections in the second round; 42nd and 57th overall. Miller grew up attending Wizards games and takes pride in being from Virginia and the D.C. area.
"Growing up in the Northern Virginia area slash D.C. area, there’s good basketball competition," Miller said. "The basketball scene, the D.M.V. is just known for having good basketball players."
Miller participated in the NBA Draft combine last month in Chicago. He measured in at about 6-foot-6 in shoes with a massive 7-foot wingspan.
That may give NBA teams something to think about when considering his long-term ceiling, given he is one of the older and more experienced players in the draft. He played five total years of college basketball, as he utilized the extra year of eligibility the NCAA gave players due to the coronavirus.
Miller averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last season for the Hurricanes. He shot a clean 54.5% from the field and 35.2% from three.
Efficiency is a selling point for Miller. In the Elite Eight against Texas, he didn't miss a shot. Miller went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and 13-for-13 from the free throw line en route to 27 points. It was just the second perfect game on at least seven field goal and free throw attempts in NCAA Tournament history after Christian Laettner did it in 1992.
Since the combine, Miller has been crisscrossing the country working out for various NBA teams. He's not sure yet if that will include a stop in D.C.
Whichever team Miller begins his NBA career with, he believes they will be getting someone who can contribute early.
"Being one of the older guys in this draft class, I feel like my advantage is being more polished than others. No disrespect to anyone else, obviously. Having those five years of college under my belt and being able to work on my game and being a little more polished, I see myself as being a plug-and-play type of guy," he said.
Miller has drawn confidence from many steps along the way. His teams went 97-5 during his high school career. In college, not only did he go on a Final Four run but he fared well in head-to-head meetings with current NBA players like Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr.
He and Banchero had "battles," Miller says, both playing in the ACC.
"I got a feeling for what that’s like," he said.
At the next level, Miller believes he can make an impact as a 3-and-D player early in his career. Long-term he hopes to develop into a starter and someone who can hold his own in the rotation of a championship team.
Miller's mentor, Bruce Brown, is currently carving a similar path for himself. Brown is a guard for the Denver Nuggets, who are in the NBA Finals. He has been advising Miller throughout the pre-draft process.
Soon Miller will join Brown, a fellow Miami alum, in the NBA. He knows it won't be easy carving a niche for himself in the best league in the world, but he's ready for the challenge.
"I feel like it’s going to be a lot of adjusting. I think the more and more comfortable I get, the better I will do," he said.
