Florida State sophomore forward Baba Miller recently announced that he will test the 2024 NBA Draft waters, according to Draft Express Jonathan Givony. Givony also said Miller had entered the transfer portal.
NEWS: Florida State's Baba Miller will enter the NCAA transfer portal, while testing the NBA Draft waters, a source told ESPN. The 7-foot Spanish forward averaged 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a sophomore. pic.twitter.com/F1GtMHB16f
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 29, 2024
Baba Miller Becomes 10th Early 2024 NBA Entrant That Also Is Entering The NCAA Transfer Portal Since End Of Collegiate Season
The 6-11 Spaniard showed improvement in year two at FSU, especially on the defensive end. Miller was one of the best players on a Seminole squad that finished 17-16 overall and eighth in the ACC with a 10-10 record.
At this point in his playing career, Miller’s top attributes are athleticism, shot-blocking, and defensive rebounding. He possesses a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
College Hoops Today selected the 20-year-old as ACC Breakout Player of the Year in 2023-24 after he scored in double figures five times in conference play out of the eight times he reached the mark this season.
Overall this season, Miller averaged 8.0 points, 5.0 boards, and 1.2 blocks over 25.9 minutes in 20 conference games. He also has two double-digit rebound games and produced one double-double against South Florida.
Baba Miller’s 2024-25 NBA Prospects
Despite enormous athleticism, Miller is still very raw offensively and is not a great rebounder. Miller does need to work on his body, which he is still growing into, by adding weight and muscle. Shooting, shot selection, and fouling are also a big issue for the youngster.
Miller needs to return to college. Miller is ranked as the No. 59th prospect in 2029 by Givony. He is the 68th prospect on NBA Draft.net.
Meanwhile, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman had him as the third to last draft pick, heading to the Houston Rockets in early February. Here is more from Wasserman:
“Baba Miller remains more of an idea than a player teams can feel confident in consistently contributing in the NBA. The idea of a 6-foot-11 wing with some three-point range, slashing ability, passing skills, and defensive versatility is still enticing enough for a second-round pick. On the bright side, he’s been mostly efficient offensively and active on defense, and he still does have time/room to build on the shooting flashes.”
If Miller does remain in the 2024 draft, he will likely go undrafted. However, due to his enormous upside, he could get a two-year, two-way contract as a purely developmental player.
Miller’s College Options
Miller should have plenty of college options due to his athleticism and potential. Here is what Giovany said about Miller’s time at Florida State:
“It was a tumultuous experience in Miller’s time in Tallahassee. When he first showed up on campus, he was dealing with shin splints that forced him to miss a lot of conditioning and practice. Then, he was suspended for the first half of the 2022-23 season by the NCAA for impermissible benefits.
The 2023-24 season was a frustrating one for Miller and FSU fans alike. The talent was so clearly there, but it just looked like he didn’t enjoy being on the court, which could be due to a lot of things, but I believe it was play style: he wanted to be on the perimeter where his talents fit best, and Florida State wanted to use him as a Jonathan Isaac-like defensive chess piece that can play both on the perimeter and down low on both ends of the floor.”
Miller is the third Seminole to enter the transfer portal, joining Primo Spears and De’Ante Green.
On3 and 247Sports rated Miller as a four-star recruit. He reportedly chose FSU over Gonzaga, so maybe the Bulldogs are a potential landing spot.
Other Players That Are Transferring and Testing NBA Waters
Here is a look at some of the other players who have entered the transfer portal and testing their draft prospects over the last few weeks
Mikeal Brown-Jones UNC Greensboro
Mikeal Brown-Jones is coming off a career year at UNC Greensboro, where he averaged 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting .540/.431/.787. The 6-8 forward, who spent his first two seasons at VCU, is very athletic and a strong screen setter. He is also very productive and efficient.
UNCG senior forward, Mikeal Brown-Jones, will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and test the 2024 NBA Draft waters, he tells me.
Took a huge leap this year, averaging 18.9 PTS + 7.5 REB as a dangerous lob threat + expanding his game to the perimeter as a pick-and-popper (43.1 3P%). pic.twitter.com/04wR4YIdmv
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) March 18, 2024
Brown-Jones has one more year of college basketball. So, it will be interesting to see what scouts tell him. He does need to improve his range.
While Brown-Jones won’t get drafted, the four-star recruit certainly appears to have a chance to make it to the NBA eventually. It may take him a few years to play in the G-League as an affiliate and then as a two-way player.
In terms of college, Brown-Jones is drawing a lot of attention. Arkansas, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and giantHe tookWisconsin are reportedly among 23 schools considering bringing in the 6-8 forward.
Malik Dia Belmont
Malik Dia is entering the NCAA transfer portal for the second time in two years. The 6-9 forward started his collegiate career at Vanderbilt and moved to Belmont last year.
Dia had a solid year for Belmont in 2023-24, averaging 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting .488/.341/.638. The athletic 20-year-old probably needs at least another year of college basketball but could be someone to watch in the future.
Since entering the transfer portal, Dia has received a lot of interest. The former 3-star recruit will visit Ole Miss in two weeks. He has also heard from UCONN, Wisconsin, Indiana, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Virginia, and USC, among others.
BJ Freeman, Milwaukee
BJ Freeman is a 6-6 wing who certaintly can score though he needs more collegiate seasoning. A junior college transfer, Freeman has spent the last two seasons in Milwaukee. He produced eight double-doubles this past season and averaged 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting .422/.351/.824. Turnovers were an issue.
Freeman has heard from over a dozen major programs, including Kentucky, Texas A&M, Kansas, Syracuse, Villanova, Xavier, Mississippi State, Arizona State, Tennessee, Missouri, Central Florida, Colorado, and Arkansas.
Dominick Harris, Loyola Marymount
Dominick Harris is not on any NBA radar, but the 6-3 guard does have talent and was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country this past season. He saw his most action this past season at LMU and averages 1.2 treys a game at a 43% clip. The former top-100 recruit spent two seasons at Gonzaga before transferring to Marymount.
Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State
Zeke Mayo is an interesting prospect who get an opportunity to showcase whether he is a true potential NBA player this upcoming collegiate season. The 6-3 guard has shown he can score and shoot it at an above average level at South Dakota State.
The 2023-24 Summitt League Player of the Year averaged 18.8 points for the second straight year while showing a huge improvement in efficiency. Mayo connected on 46.6% of his field goal attempts and 39.1% of his threes while making 2.6 treys a game.
Mayo has trimmed his list to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Creighton.
Kylen Milton, Arkanas-Pine Bluff
Kylen Milton is an athletic 6-4 slasher who is fantastic at getting to the free throw line and is coming off a career season. If Milton can repeat the efficiency of this past season, he may entice an NBA team to give him a chance at earning a two-way deal.
Milton averaged 17.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting .505/.351/.737. Ole Miss is among the programs that have contacted the upcoming grad transfer. Milton began his collegiate career at Western Kentucky.
Toby Okani, UIC
Toby Okani is an athletic 6-8 forward with elite physical tools, including a 7-foot wingspan and massive hands. Because of these tools and defensive prowess, Okani is the prototypical two-way player who could get an NBA standard deal if he improves offensively. The upcoming grad transfer began his career at Duquesne.
UIC senior forward, Toby Okani, will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and test the 2024 NBA Draft waters, I’m told.
Elite physical tools at 6’8” 210 lbs w/ a 7’0” wingspan, massive hands, and twitchy/explosive athletic pop.
Disruptive defensive playmaker w/ a 6.2 BLK% + 2.6 STL%. pic.twitter.com/yxrVq2GTgT
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) March 18, 2024
Okani has heard from UCLA, Xavier, Clemson, Arkansas, Florida State, BYU, Arizona State, California, St. Bonaventure, Hofstra, Murray State, Utah State, Wisconsin, George Washington, George Mason, and Richmon.
Adou Thiero, Kentucky
Outside Miller, Brown-Jones, and Freeman, Adou Thiero may be the top NBA prospect on this list. The reason being is due to his athleticsm though the 6-6 wing does need at least another year of college. Thiero is nowhere close to being draft and like the other players –except Miller.
Thiero is a slasher who excels on the defensive end. He became a major part of the Wildcats rotation, including a part-time starter, and made huge strides in year two.
Thiero averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 21.5 minutes this season while shooting .492/.318/.800. He scored in double figures five times and produced one double-double against Kansas.
While Thiero has entered the transfer portal, he said he may return to Kentucky. Pitt has reportedly contacted the Western Pennsylvania product.
