Grading the head-to-head performances of potential lottery picks Brandon Miller and GG Jackson

On Wednesday night, college basketball got a treat. Potential lottery picks Brandon Miller, and GG Jackson faced off in a head-to-head matchup. Both players stand 6-foot-9, both players are very skilled for their size, and both players have come with some questions during their first years in college.

Jackson’s South Carolina team came into the game as a bottom three team in the SEC. Miller’s Alabama team is in first place, standing firm at No. 2 in the recent AP Top 25. However, it was the individual matchup that caught the imaginations of many.

I wanted to go through each of their performances and grade how they played

Brandon Miller – Alabama – Grade A+

In this game, in this setting, there was not much Brandon Miller did not showcase. He set a career-high with 41 points and did so on a night when the remainder of his team combined to go 1-for-14 from three and 13-for-47 from the field. Miller scored 52.6 percent of his team’s points in an overtime conference win on the road.

As he has all season, Miller showcased he is a threat in catch-and-shoot situations, especially from beyond the arc. When guards Jaden Bradley and Mark Sears were able to touch the paint, Miller drifted with them to find the angle and the space to get open looks. He was 6-of-13 from three on the night.

Where Miller impressed me was with his ability to create and attack off the bounce. This is something he has improved as the season went on, along with his finishing around the basket. Both in regulation and in overtime, Alabama put the ball in Miller’s hand, in the middle of the floor, and let him create. In both situations, Miller got all the way to the rim with little resistance and finished.

There have been questions about Miller’s ability to finish at the rim this season, but in this one, he was and 8-of-12 from two-point range. Miller also rebounded well, tying with a game-high eight rebounds. He also showed some instincts as an off-ball defender, getting deflections in the passing lanes and rotating well off the ball. There is still work to be done on the ball, but he gave solid effort.

While it took him a few minutes to get going, Miller closed this game strong showing why he has put himself in strong contention to be the first college player to hear his name called in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Brandon Miller Came up very Clutch tonight vs South Carolina.. hitting lay up to send the game into overtime and hit the game winner in OT.. and A Career High..

41 PTS (14-25 FG, 6-13 3PT, 7-8 FT)
8 REBS
1 AST
3 STLS
2 BLKS

Again would we consider taking bro #2 ??? pic.twitter.com/Q3REsPsCpe

— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) February 23, 2023

GG Jackson – South Carolina – Grade A

So with this one, I went back and forth between an A and an A-minus for Jackson. I landed on the A because the flashes were just too good. The 6-foot-9 forward was able to get to his spots regularly off the bounce, especially when he was matched up one-on-one in the half-court.

Alabama made a halftime adjustment and put multiple eyes on Jackson, which slowed him down some in the second. But the former No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class put his shot-making ability on display.

Jackson’s most impressive shots came in the mid-range. Going both left and right, he was able to get to his spots within two dribbles and rise high above the defender to knock down the jumper. He has good footwork in the mid-range and showcased some counters off the bounce when his initial sight line was cut off.

Jackson looked more comfortable shooting off a rhythm dribble. Even from three, when he would come off motion or shoot off the catch, there looked like some balance issues crept in. When he was able to get a dribble or two in, to get to his spot, the release and balance appeared much cleaner. There is obvious work that Jackson needs to do to strengthen his base and his core, which could help here.

I am not typically one to give a pass, but the South Carolina roster was simply outmanned in this one. When Alabama focused multiple defenders on Jackson, spacing closed down, and the Crimson Tide were simply ok with letting the other four players beat them.

A big question for Jackson has been his defensive effort this season. In this one, he was effective as an off-ball defender. The explosively athletic forward had multiple chase-down or weak side blocks, and he gathered a couple of deflections in the passing lanes. He will need to stay locked in when guarding the ball, he has the tools, but his concentration break downs showed against Miller.

Being someone who just turned 18 in December, there is obvious room for growth with Jackson, for starters, body language. But when the lights have been the brightest this season, Jackson has answered the call and showed the talent level of a player who could hear his name called in the lottery.

GG Jackson has gotten to his spots with relative ease throughout this game pic.twitter.com/hykIZRzLS2

— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) February 23, 2023