Jasai Miles was one of the first transfer portal prospects to commit to head coach Darian DeVries’ rebuilding project at Indiana. He was also something of a sign of things to come, bringing good size to the Hoosiers’ backcourt and the versatility to play multiple positions, something that’ll become a running theme as we go through these previews.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the season:
The Background
Miles joins Indiana after having spent the previous two seasons at North Florida, starting for the Ospreys
as a freshman and a sophomore. He was unranked as a prospect in the class of 2023 out of Miami Country Day School in Miami, Florida, holding offers from programs including North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Chicago State and Samford.
The Stats and the Skillset
Miles averaged 5.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from the field and 67.2% from the free-throw line as a freshman at North Florida in 2023-24. KenPom’s stats are a bit more courteous given his offensive rating of 104.6 and his eFG% of 47%. Not amazing, but not horrible.
He became a much more important piece as a sophomore, starting every contest while averaging 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 42.5% from the field and 63.2% from the free throw line in 31.6 minutes per game. Again, KenPom is a tad more generous with an offensive rating of 105.1, an eFG% of 52.1%.
Standing at 6’6”, Miles is a big guard who can do a few different things with the ball in his hands. He has the size and driving ability to get to the rim and finish over defenders, either going up or relying on his footwork down low to catch defenders out of position for an easier look. On top of that, he has enough of a handle to create space for himself to drive or get a shot up.
He’s not always looking to score himself at all costs. That driving ability helps him get a defense out of position to generate opportunities for his teammates, and he’s proven a capable and willing passer in those situations.
Getting a shot up is generally his bread and butter. If he finds stiff resistance while getting downhill, he can backpedal and pull up in the midrange area for a bucket. He’s capable of doing so from long range as well, but that’s something you’d probably rather he do in late clock situations where a better shot isn’t really feasible.
If Miles gets open from deep, he’s letting it fly. The 3-point shooting numbers don’t jump out at you, he hit 33.5% of his attempts from long range last season, but that was in a role that called for it.
His size matters even more on the defensive end of the court. He has the versatility to guard multiple positions in the backcourt and could in theory hold his own if he’s matched up with certain forwards.
The Role
Miles having two seasons of eligibility remaining sets him apart from a solid portion of this roster. If he performs particularly well in year one, there’s a path to him being a starter as a senior.
I don’t think Miles ends up starting for this group. There’s just too much experience near the top of the roster and he’d likely be at his best off the bench as a change of pace option or in relief of one of the starters. It also depends on the lineups Indiana ends up using, he could be in line for more run if the staff is comfortable with him at the two and the three.
The overall fit makes sense though. Miles is a versatile wing who can shoot, defend and swing the rock. Indiana’s gonna need plenty of movement to get defenses out of position because it won’t be able to rely on sheer strength or out-talenting the opposition. Through that lens, Miles’ ideal role is something of a sparkplug off the bench who could earn more minutes if he performs well during his time on the court. He probably shouldn’t be taking some of the shots he did at North Florida and instead should rely a bit more on what the offense provides. Instead of using that frame to get to the rim, he can use it to get the ball moving and find an even better shot.
Perhaps most importantly, he’ll have to hold up on defense. He’s capable of it, given his size, and an offseason in the weight room could make that a bit easier. If he comes in off the bench and plays his role, there’ll be little reason to take him out.
