Five Star Wing and Four Star Big Commit to Alabama

We interrupt the 2022 Tide Hoops season preview series to bring you, yet another, major coup for Nate Oats and his staff on the recruiting trail. Five-star wing and top-20 player in the class of 2022, Brandon Miller, has committed to Alabama. The 6’8 wing is the top player in the state of Tennessee, and his profile is elite. Long, athletic, can dribble, drive, and shoot, etc. - the ideal player for Nate Oats’ system. Don’t just take my word for it, check out the highlights yourself:

This kid can flat-out ball. He’s dangerous from any area of the court, and his size/skill combo makes him a nightmare to defend. As long as he’s willing to put in the work on the glass and on the defensive end, the sky is the limit for him. Miller chose Alabama over a long list of programs, most significantly Kansas; however, there is a slight concern that he may end up going the pro route via the NBA G-League or Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL).

If he does remain committed to at least a year in Tuscaloosa, he joins fellow five-star Jaden Bradley as the beginning (and only the beginning) of what should end up being Alabama’s best hoops class of all-time in 2022. Both of these guys are legitimate pros - they won’t be long for Tuscaloosa. But, they will be impactful while they are at the Capstone.

Nate Oats is officially in Nick Saban territory when it comes to recruiting - the guy simply doesn’t miss. I mean, Brandon Miller should be at Kansas. Jaden Bradley should be at Arizona or Gonzaga. But they aren’t. They are coming to play for Oats and his crew in Tuscaloosa, AL. And Oats isn’t anywhere close to being done either. I’d expect some more big news to follow shortly...

EDIT: I wasn’t lying.

Less than three hours after securing Brandon Miller’s commitment, Oats and company have struck again. Four-star big, Noah Clowney, the top-rated player in South Carolina, has committed to the Tide for 2022. The 6’10 post chose Alabama over finalists Indiana and Virginia Tech, the former of which was the heavy favorite to land Clowney until just recently.

Clowney reminds me of Donta Hall with a more refined offensive game, capable of taking guys off of the dribble and scoring from outside of the paint. He gives Nate Oats a true big who can help crash the boards and provide rim protection in relief or alongside Charles Bediako, assuming the 2021 big man is still around in Tuscaloosa come next season, which I do expect to be the case.

We are in the Good Times, everyone. Don’t let anyone tell you that we didn’t make you aware of it while it happened.