‘I Can’t Even Put It Into Words’: Jordan Miller Reacts to Getting Drafted

Former Miami guard Jordan Miller’s lifelong dream came to fruition on Thursday night when the Los Angeles Clippers selected him with the 48th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

“It’s a surreal feeling, for sure. Still processing, but to hear my name get called … a lifelong dream of mine since I was a kid,” Miller told Miami Athletics after getting drafted. “I can’t even put it into words. I really can’t.”

Miller was joined by a close-knit group at his draft party. While his parents were unable to attend, Miller says that after getting selected, he thought about them and the support they’ve given him throughout his career.

Leading up to the NBA Draft, Miller reportedly worked out for six teams, but the Clippers were not one of them. He did, however, speak to Clippers assistant coach Jay Larrańaga in the pre-draft process. Jay is the son of Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga.

“Weirdly enough, I couldn’t get to [Los Angeles] for a workout. Schedule was just hectic, but Coach L’s son is there, so I’ve talked to him,” Miller said. “He said they really liked me. I had a conversation with them at the draft combine, an interview. That went really well.”

Miller was the first Hurricane to be selected in the NBA Draft since Dewan Hernandez, who was the 59th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Miller wasn’t the only UM player drafted on Thursday, as teammate Isaiah Wong was chosen with the 55th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers.

Both Miller and Wong boosted their respective draft stocks with impressive performances at the NBA Combine and also worked out for some of the same teams leading up to the draft.

“I can’t wait to talk to him. It’s crazy, me and Zay, we met along the journey a couple times. We talked about it, and now, this is what we want our careers to be, and that on draft night, we just want to get selected and have the opportunity. For us both to get the opportunity, we obviously couldn’t ask for more.”

This is the fourth time in Miami men’s basketball history that multiple players were selected in the same draft. The most recent occurrence was when Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker were drafted in 2018. 

The Hurricanes have now had six former players drafted in the last seven years, which is tied for the most in a seven-year span in program history (1965-71).

Check out LifeWalletSports.com to get connected with all of our athletes and partnered brands.