Leonard Miller withdraws from NBA Draft, signs with G League

Curious what happened to Leonard Miller following his decision to turn down Kentucky and Arizona — his two college finalists — to go pro? He made a final decision on Monday.

The five-star wing has withdrawn from the 2022 NBA Draft and signed with the NBA G-League Ignite, he announced.

“My decision to withdraw from this year’s draft is based on what’s best for my long-term development,” Miller told ESPN. “With another year of development both on and off the court, I will put myself in an even better position for the 2023 draft. Going through the pre-draft process, I learned about what it takes to be a successful professional. Whether it’s the daily on-court work, off-court work, diet, or recovery, I have gained a much greater understanding of the habits it takes to get to the top of this field.”

The draft withdrawal deadline was Monday at 5 p.m. ET, which applies to international players considering their professional options. Miller previously kept his name in the draft at the NCAA withdrawal deadline on June 1. He declared for the draft while maintaining his college eligibility back in April, eligible due to the fact he is now one year removed from high school after completing a postgraduate year at Fort Erie International Academy in Ontario.

The 6-foot-10 wing was the No. 43 prospect in the latest ESPN draft rankings for 2022 and is expected to be a first-round selection in 2023.

He took an official visit to Kentucky back in April and included the program as one of three finalists, joining Arizona and the G-League. Now, Miller is joining the Ignite.