Latest Alabama basketball target for ’22 class now a 5-Star

A few days ago we discussed the highly-rated Alabama Basketball signing class for 2022 might not be complete. Based upon post-season decisions by current players, Nate Oats could have as many as seven spots to fill.

Currently, the Crimson Tide’s 2022 class includes four players ranked inside the Top 58 players based on the 247Sports Composite. Two of them are 5-Star players. The fifth signee for the 2022 class is the No. 3 rated JUCO player.

Based on the 247Sports Composite, Nate Oats has signed college basketball’s No. 3 class.

In explaining who Oats might sign next, our post focused on 6’9″ small forward, Leonard Miller. Check out more detail about Miller, including video highlights here.

Miller is Canadian and has been so far outside the radar of the recruiting services, he had never been ranked. That has suddenly changed with On3.com making him the 5-Star, No. 11 prospect in the 2022 class. Alabama and several other schools extended an offer to Miller three months ago.

Calling him a small forward is a bit misleading. He has the ball skills and shooting range to play at the 1, 2 or 3 guard/wing slots. He has the height to be an outstanding stretch 4. He has the leaping ability to be a stretch 5, though some added bulk will be needed to battle inside.

A couple of years ago Miller had a growth spurt, pushing him well beyond the typical size for a college guard. His quickness and ball-handling were not diminished by his physical growth.

Can Alabama Basketball land Leonard Miller?

His brother plays at TCU, giving the Horned Frogs an advantage. Still, Miller is a perfect fit for the Nate Oats system.

What Nate Oats is accomplishing in recruiting is stunning. Using the latest On3 Player Rankings, the list below shows where the top players in the 2022 class are going. To compare, the list uses the Top 40 in the Player Rankings.

• Duke Blue Devils (4 signees) – No. 1, 3, 4, 10
• Kansas Jayhawks (4 signees) – No. 16, 20, 38, 40
• Alabama Crimson Tide (3 signees) – No. 14, 25, 37
• Eight schools have two signees each in the Top 40: Villanova; Oregon; U Conn; Texas; LSU; Kentucky; Arkansas and UCLA.
• Nine schools have one Top 40 signee: Michigan; BYU; Auburn; USC; Xavier; Notre Dame; Baylor; Indiana and Houston.
• Four recruits in the Top 40 have not yet selected a college program – including Leonard Miller.

However, the 2021-22 Alabama basketball season finishes, Crimson Tide fans can anticipate a continued upswing under Nate Oats.

Up next for the Alabam Crimson Tide is a Wednesday game against Mississippi State in Coleman Coliseum.