Quincy Miller: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

Quincy Miller is a long, lean and talented small forward, but he could have become a top-five pick if he stayed one more season at Baylor. Miller was part of a very good year for the Baylor program, as the hoops squad reached the Elite Eight.

As a freshman, Miller averaged 10.6 points per game in just over 24 minutes per contest.

He is still recovering from a serious knee injury he suffered his senior year in high school, but this kid has some star-potential. One has to wonder if he's stunting his own growth by coming out after his freshman season.

Miller has a big personality that may be a turnoff for some, but it definitely makes him polarizing. Check him out in this video:

He has the skills to back it up, but it remains to be seen how long it'll take to see his talent blossom.

Miller made himself eligible for the draft on April 24, after initially saying he would return for his sophomore season. ESPN's Chad Ford has him listed as the fourth-best small forward in the draft, and that is understandable because he's still a bit raw, but he has significant upside.

Hopefully he can stay healthy and we'll get a chance to see how good he can be.

Here is a scouting report on Miller that highlights his strengths and weaknesses.

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile:

Height: 6'9" 

Weight: 210 pounds 

School: Baylor

Date of Birth: November 18, 1992

Best NBA Position: Small Forward

College Stats (Key Stats Underlined): 10.6 PPG, 24.4 MPG, 44.7 FG%, 34.8 3FG%, 81.6 FT%, 1.4 APG, 4.9 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 0.7 SPG

Skill Grades:

Athleticism - B+

Size - A+

Intangibles - B+

Rebounding - B

Ball Handling - A

Defense - B

Shooting - A-

Passing - B+

Post Game - B-

Basketball IQ - B+

Upside - A

Strengths

At 6'9" with a condor-like wingspan, Miller has ideal size for the small forward position. He has a high release while penetrating and he has the length to be an effective defender.

His ball-handling is advanced, especially considering his height. He has great hesitation moves, spins and other tricks off the dribble. Creating his own shot should never be an issue for Miller.

He does have good vision for his teammates, which could make him a solid playmaker as well. Miller shoots it well from distance and mid-range.

He also shoots over 80 percent from the free-throw line, and this is huge for a long player with so many stutter-type moves.

He should draw consistent contact, and it's great to know that he'll knock down his free throws. When he's taking good shots, he can be a scoring machine.

Miller's potential is clear in this highlight reel:

Weaknesses

Miller is not an explosive athlete. He has only decent run-and-jump capabilities, but he makes up for it with his length and ball-handling. He doesn't go to the boards as hard as some teams may want him to, but he has the length to be adequate in this area.

Miller isn't consistent as a defender, and he doesn't body up on defense. He is rail thin, and that impacts him on both ends of the floor, especially near the basket. He needs to add about 15 pounds of muscle to reach his full potential.

Some NBA execs have questioned whether Miller ever allowed his knee to fully heal, and that is causing some concerns. David Aldridge of NBA.com reports that an Atlantic Division NBA executive said:

"

"The knee thing, that's a tougher read," a Pacific executive said. "How and where does that end up? Is he still getting better? Is he leveling off? He's a really skilled, talented guy, but the knee makes it a little bit of an enigma."

"

It's a definite concern, and he must be careful with the injury, it could make or break him. If Miller is patient, humble and adds strength he could be a special player.

NBA Player Comparison

Poor Man's Kevin Durant

I know this is a lofty comparison, even referring to him as a "poor man's" version, but the scorer's mentality, body frame and abilities are similar.

I'm not predicting that Miller will be a NBA scoring champion, though I believe he does have the ability to score in bunches on the NBA level. Durant is one of the game's best offensive players having averaged 26.3 points per game in his six-year career.

I could easily see Miller being in the 16 to 18 points per game area, but the similarities will come in how they get their buckets.

I'm predicting Miller has nights and stretches where people say, "Man, this kid looks like Durant out there today."

Both use the pull-up jump shot extensively, and can take advantage of smaller defenders from mid-range and in the post. A Central Division executive was quoted by David Aldridge of NBA.com:

"

"If he gets his leg strength back, he's Durant-like in his ability to get a shot off. He's 6-10 and he can snap his shot off with no trouble."

"

Miller can have Durant-like performances, whether that is sustained for a long period of time remains to be seen, but he is a talent that reminds me of Durant.

Draft Projection:

Mid- to Late-First Round

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