Mercy Miller deserves starting role at Houston, could become transfer portal prize
Mercy Miller deserves starting role at Houston, could become transfer portal prize originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
It's been a week since Houston was bounced from the NCAA Tournament. Since then, there have been many questions heading into the offseason. One of the biggest is how Kelvin Sampson will fill in the gaps.
The movement provides some clues about what's about to happen. One name the Cougars can't afford to lose is Mercy Miller. His status will be a primary topic of discussion, from those closely involved with the program to others looking to poach the former top-100 player for their own roster, everyone is watching and waiting.
There is no doubt Sampson believes in Miller's ability to be the "next man up." The longtime Houston coach has praised his young talent and the feeling has been reciprocal. Miller committed to the Cougars when he was 15 and hasn't wavered once to test the market. With Kingston Flemings expected to move on to the NBA and former five-star McDonald's All American Isiah Harwell entering the transfer portal, Sampson has some decisions to make.
This will be one of the biggest offseason periods for Houston's future. Sampson is all about leading the Cougars to a national title. That comes with targeting the right players, which can be tough in the NIL era. Harwell was viewed as a pivotal piece to get back to the promised land and signed on the dotted line on the heels of last year's national championship run. However, one year with very little results and he's gone.
The belief is Houston will stay in-house before picking up players in the portal. If it wanted anyone from the outside, now would be the time to evaluate who is a good fit. Yet, little can be done until the season is over and the portal window opens. They are waiting to talk to their top choices and build the roster next Tuesday.
Is Mercy Miller in Houston's future plans?
If there isn't already a plan in place by then, much of the work will be at a rapid pace. Miller should be a key part of Houston's core, but does the program have the resources to compete on the open market?
According to On3 , Flemings NIL evaluation was at $1.5 million for this past season. Add that to the $1 million Harwell was at, and it's a solid chunk now available. Not to mention, the $1.2 million for Chris Cenac Jr. will likely also be coming off the books.
Miller's worth is in the $1 million per year range for NIL. Given what he could do as a possible starter, this might be a bargain for the current market. If he wanted to test the waters outside of Houston, his value goes up significantly.
Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance had a $2 million evaluation and scored a total of 20 points this season. Different positions, but also one example of how the market has changed. However, Wildcats guard Denzel Aberdeen has a $1.6 million valuation with a background similar to Miller. Except Aberdeen started for Mark Pope last season.
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Kansas guard Darryn Peterson is reportedly at $1.5 million and projected as a top NBA Draft pick. He's one year removed from Prolific Prep high school in California and averaged 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. Miller is two years removed from Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA) and put up similar numbers with 29.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and four assists per game. Miller was a problem for Peterson twice this season. Two of the worst games for the Jayhawks' star when he played the majority of minutes and didn't duck out early.
Mercy Miller as the next Big 12 star or another big name on the move
Maybe the better question is whether Miller would actually go after a pay day, rather than settle in Houston. Sampson has built the program with traditional roots. But the landscape has changed from 10 years ago, and there needs to be an evolution, of sorts.
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The parts that make Houston a strong contender are the rich tradition and players wanting to learn from Sampson. Outside those factors, the scales tip for players to be elsewhere with a one-and-done future. Miller has been loyal, and it's time for him to prove why he's ready to be built around. But he would also be one of the biggest names in the transfer portal, cashing out for more.
The portal decisions are looming. Not only does Houston need a few good players ASAP but if Miller were to leave, the Cougars would have to scramble. The calendar is chaotic for a reason. The whispers and speculation are becoming louder and could set the program back on a championship track.
