Baba Miller’s route to the 2026 NBA Draft has been anything but linear. The 6-foot-11 forward was once a 6-foot-2 guard prospect in Mallorca, then grew into a much different player after a major late growth spurt.
Born Papa Ababacar Bartolome Miller, he was recruited early by Real Madrid and spent six years in the club’s system. That stretch helped build his reputation in European youth basketball, where he stood out by age 16 at national team events and later helped Real Madrid’s youth program win the Next Generation Tournament in 2021.
From Guard Skills To Frontcourt Size
Miller’s game changed as his body changed. He spent years trying to stay in the guard role he knew best, even as he kept growing, and he eventually reached 6-11 by age 19 after being listed at 6-foot-2 as a 14-year-old.
He made his senior debut for Real Madrid in December 2021, but his frame was still developing and he did not play much. After that, he decided that college in the United States would give him a better path forward.
College Detours, Then A Strong Senior Finish
Miller arrived at Florida State as a potential one-and-done player, but his start there was delayed by a suspension for the first 16 games after a $3,000 payment to attend a training camp in 2020. Under current NCAA rules, that payment would not trigger the same penalty.
He later transferred to Florida Atlantic, where he earned second-team All-AAC honors, and then moved again for his senior season to Cincinnati. By the end of that year, he had become one of the better players in the Big 12.
At Cincinnati, Miller averaged a double-double with four assists per game and helped the Bearcats make a late push for the NCAA Tournament. He also delivered a strong showing in the five-on-five portion of the NBA Draft Combine, adding momentum as he became automatically eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft after exhausting his collegiate eligibility.
