Adam Miller continuing basketball career in SEC
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (BVM) — It came as a big surprise to Illini fans when former Illinois guard Adam Miller entered the transfer portal on April 1, but Will Wade’s LSU program is getting one of the most sought after players to enter the transfer portal this offseason.
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 ✍️
Welcome to the boot, Adam Miller!
🔗 https://t.co/FGzbZW1z04 | @AceWolf44 pic.twitter.com/bQg97U16wY
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) May 7, 2021
The former 2020 Illinois Mr. Basketball started all 31 games for his home–state school as a freshman averaging 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 34% from three-point range last season. Miller’s contributions helped Illinois win its first Big Ten Tournament and secure its first one seed in the NCAA Tournament since the historic 2004-05 season.
“We are very excited to add one of college basketball’s top transfers in Adam Miller,” Wade said on May 7 when Miller’s transfer became official. “Adam is a tremendous person both on and off the court. Adam is a dynamic scorer, passer and leader. He will affect the game on both ends for us with his physicality and his basketball IQ.”
Miller signed with Illinois out of Morgan Park as a consensus four-star, top-40 national recruit where he was able to have one of the more decorated careers in IHSA history. In addition to being named Mr. Basketball as a senior, Miller was a two-time Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. As a senior, Miller averaged 27.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.3 steals, leading the Mustangs to a 22-9 record and the IHSA Class 3A sectional final before the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a junior, Miller averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists leading Morgan Park to a 30-5 record and another appearance in the sectional finals. He and former Illinois All-American and Bob Cousey Award winner Ayo Dosunmu teamed up in 2017-18 at Morgan to win the Illinois state championship with a 25-9 record.
Despite the events being canceled because of COVID-19, Miller was selected to the Jordan Brand Classic, Iverson Classic and Team USA for the Nike Hoop Summit in 2020.
Always viewed as one of the premier scorers in his class, Miller electrified Illinois in the season opener with a program–record 28 points by a freshman in a debut performance against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 25.
Miller’s decision to transfer to LSU comes after he was expected to take a larger role in Brad Underwood’s program with the departure of Dosunmu. Miller’s usage rate of 15.6 with Illinois was fifth on the team of players who played a considerable amount of minutes and was third highest among guards behind Dosunmu and Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, Andre Curbelo.
“Adam was a big part of our success this season, starting every game as a freshman and contributing not just on offense but defensively as well,” Underwood said when Miller entered the transfer portal. “He has a very bright future ahead and we wish him all the best.”
The addition of Miller to LSU’s roster gives the Tigers a proven college talent to pair with a top-15 recruiting class highlighted by five–star center Efton Reid and former Missouri point guard Xavier Pinson, who also transferred this offseason.
The additions could make LSU one of the top teams in the SEC along with Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas.
