WATCH: Five-star forward Brandon Miller reveals why he chose Alabama

On3 imageby:Barkley Truax07/06/22

BarkleyTruax

Nate Oats quietly built a basketball empire at Alabama, and that success has finally been paying off in the recruiting game. Incoming freshman and former five-star recruit Brandon Miller has taken notice and explained why he decided to spend his college basketball career in Tuscaloosa.

“I chose to come to Alabama because Coach [Nate] Oats is probably one of the best coaches out there for one thing,” Miller said. “He has a great coaching staff around him to just support him and I love the play style at Alabama. It was probably the best fit that I [could have] picked.”

As it stands just weeks after the 2022 NBA Draft, Miller is already expected to be a mid-to-late first-round selection (per ESPN). That NBA potential will force quite a bit of pressure onto Miller to succeed early and remain consistent – something the Crimson Tide struggled mightily to do during the 2021-2022 season.

Their year was one with many ups and downs that saw the Crimson Tide being the year hot with an 8-1 record before finishing the regular season with a 19-12 record and subsequently bounced from the NCAA Tournament by Notre Dame in the tournament’s first game. Miller believes a lack of leadership was the catalyst to their mid-season downfall.

“One thing I feel like I can bring is a lot of leadership,” Miller said. “I think that was missing, just a little bit of leadership this year. That’s why the season ended real early. I think the big thing with that is just communication with everybody on the team and everybody buying in.”

Joining Miller in Tuscaloosa as a part of the No. 8 recruiting class in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, are a trio of four-star prospects in Jaden Bradley, Rylan Griffen and Noah Clowney. The group of four incoming freshman have made it clear that they expect pressure – and they can’t wait to embrace it.

“It’s definitely going to be high,” Miller said about Alabama’s expectations during the 2022-23 season. “All the recruits’ goal is to win a natty and I feel like we can actually win a natty.”