Brandon Miller, 19, Alabama’s freshman basketball star, dropped 41 points in South Carolina one day after being linked to his ex-teammates Darius Miles, 21, and Michael Lynn Davis’, 20, capital murder case.
During a tense head-to-head SEC matchup against the Gamecocks on February 22, Miller scored his career-high ball game following reports that police have alleged he brought Miles the gun that was used in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Harris on January 15. Throughout the thrilling, yet marginal, 78 to 76 overtime win, where he scored a clutch go-ahead bucket last minute, rowdy South Carolina fans chanted “lock him up,” several times when Miller was in possession of the ball. Miller’s outing in South Carolina became the highest-scoring performance for any NCAA freshman this season. It also serves as the best freshman performance in Alabama’s school history.
In a public statement, Alabama Athletic’s defended the decision to clear Miller to play, citing he was merely a “cooperative witness,” in the capital murder case.
“Based on all the information we have received, Brandon Miller is not considered a suspect in this case, only a cooperative witness,” the statement reads.
Additionally, Miller’s attorney claimed in a statement he “never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange to Mr. Davis in any way, and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur.” Alabama head coach Nate Oats also previously described Miller’s involvement in the situation in a statement, claiming the forward from Tennessee was in the “wrong place at the wrong time.” Oats later apologized for the statement.
While both ex-Bama players Miles and Davis have been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Harris in Tuscaloosa earlier this year, it was recently revealed that Davis was the alleged triggerman in the deadly incident.
According to police reports, Harris was engaged in a minor altercation with Miles and Davis prior to being on the receiving end of shots fired into her vehicle. Police allege that Davis shot at the 23-year-old woman while she was stopped, and in the passenger seat of a vehicle on a road near Alabama’s campus. Harris’ boyfriend, with whom she shared a five-year-old son, was also present on the night of her death, returned gunfire, and was also struck by a bullet during the shooting. Both Miles and Davis had their bonds revoked and will remain in jail until their case is heard by a grand jury in Alabama, which will decide whether or not to file a formal indictment against the pair.
Prior to the shooting, Miles had suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Miles averaged 1.5 points while shooting 33 percent from the field during the six games he played this season. On the contrary, Miller has played in all 28 games Alabama has participated in this year, helping the Crimson Tide achieve an impressive 24-4 record on the season. Miller is currently shooting 46 percent from the field while averaging 19 points and eight rebounds per game.
Check out the clip below detailing the possible outcomes for Miller, Miles and Davis in the ongoing capital murder case below.