At 21, this exciting European talent is being tipped for NBA stardom
Baba Miller, who delivered a spectacular double-double in Cincinnati’s victory over Baylor, is catching the eye of NBA scouts.
What a performance Spanish forward Baba Miller delivered late Wednesday night for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Beating Baylor is always a statement, and the Bearcats did it behind the unmatched leadership of the Spaniard, who put up a staggering double-double to carry his team to victory. The win extends Cincinnati’s solid collective momentum - and who knows, maybe fuels dreams of making some noise in March. One thing’s certain: the Mallorca native shone once again.
Baba’s Bearcats on a roll
This marks the fourth straight win for Wes Miller’s squad. The Bearcats now sit ninth in the Big 12, where the top dog - not just in the conference but nationally - remains the unrelenting Arizona Wildcats. The good news for Cincinnati is Miller. The less good news: the other Spaniard. Jordi Rodríguez, a product of Joventut Badalona’s academy, went scoreless in his six minutes on the floor; he missed both of his shots but did swipe two steals. Offensively, Miller got support from Jizzle James (17 points) and Moustapha Thiam (14). Not quite at his level, sure, but crucial pieces in securing the 67-57 final.
Baylor never really found its footing and never threatened Cincinnati’s control of the game. The Bears steadily slipped behind on the scoreboard, and with just over six minutes to play they trailed by 18. There was no comeback. Tounde Yessoufou led them with 16 points. It was a deeply disappointing night for Cameron Carr, a projected first-round pick who missed 10 of his 11 shots. James Nnaji, developed at FC Barcelona and later at Girona, went scoreless in seven minutes.
Miller’s monster night
Miller didn’t just deliver - he exceeded expectations. The former Real Madrid prospect, 21 years old and firmly on the radar for Spain’s national team, looks like he has finally found the right fit. It took time, sure. After leaving “La Fábrica,” he bounced between two other programs: the Florida State Seminoles and Florida Atlantic Owls. Cincinnati, though, seems to be the perfect landing spot. His double-double was a display of pure force: 18 points and 17 rebounds, shooting 6-of-12 from the field. He also added three assists, including a couple of beauties. He logged 37 minutes, dominated the glass, dictated tempo on both ends, and showed real pop in transition. He’s now averaging 13.8 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 55%. NBA scouts are once again highlighting his name in their notebooks.
Nearly 10,000 fans packed Fifth Third Arena for this compelling matchup in the college basketball landscape. The win gives Cincinnati its 11th victory of the season, drawing even with Baylor - though with a better conference record - and giving their postseason hopes a final push. Realistically, from Miller’s perspective, what truly moves the needle are performances like this one: eye‑opening outings that show a true measure of what he could be at the professional level. And he’s walking down exactly that path.
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