Miller starred for Bama despite intense scrutiny
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Alabama forward Brandon Miller, a standout freshman who is the team’s leading scorer, was in the starting lineup Wednesday night and scored his season high for points while starring in the secondranked Crimson Tide’s overtime win at South Carolina.
He was back on the court just a day after police said Miller delivered a gun ahead of a fatal shooting that took place near campus in mid-January, with Miller playing hours after the university said he’d remain an “active member” of the basketball program and is not considered a suspect.
Alabama’s support for Miller, one of the nation’s top players, made little difference to Gamecocks fans at Colonial Life Arena, who focused on the 6-foot-9, 200-pounder from Antioch, Tennessee, even before the Southeastern Conference game started. The crowd booed each time Miller touched the ball, and members of the student section chanted, “Lock him up!” and “Guilty!” several times when he was on court.
Miller, who finished with 41 points, scored the decisive basket with 0.9 second left in overtime as SEC-leading Alabama beat South Carolina 78-76.
The game capped an eventful few days for Miller, who is considered a possible lottery pick for the NBA draft. Authorities allege he is connected to the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris last month. Tuscaloosa Police investigator Brandon Culpepper testified this week that Miller brought a gun to Darius Miles, who was on Alabama’s roster at the time, on the night of the shooting after Miles texted him and asked him to do so.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, an attorney for Miller said his client never handled the gun officials say was involved.
“Based on all the information that we have received, Brandon Miller is not considered a suspect in this case, only a cooperative witness,” the university said in a statement released before the game. “Today’s statement from Brandon’s lawyer adds additional context that the University considered as part of its review of the facts. Based on all the facts that we have gathered, Brandon remains an active member of the team”
Alabama coach Nate Oats acknowledged that some of his players may have let the past few days affect their game against South Carolina. But not Miller, who has per-game averages of 19.5 points per game — nearly six points higher than anyone else on the team — and 8.0 rebounds, which is tied for the team lead with Noah Clowney.
“He’s one of the most mentally tough kids I’ve ever coached,” Oats said.
Miller and other players were not made available to the media after the game.
Miller was on the court about 80 minutes before tipoff, warming up with teammates before fans were allowed in the building. Once the doors opened, students filled several areas around the court and focused on Miller, who didn’t react while continuing his pregame drills.
He started the game slowly, missing two wide-open 3-pointers, and the Tide found themselves in a battle against the Gamecocks, trailing 35-31 at halftime. Miller got going near the end of the half, scoring on a 3-pointer and a pair of highflying dunks and accounting for almost half of the points scored by Alabama before intermission. He finished the half with a teamhigh 15 points, three rebounds, a block and a turnover.
The atmosphere was highly charged, and at least two fans were led out of the arena by police as the South Carolina crowd cheered.
Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, said his client never handled the gun owned by Miles. Prosecutors have said Miles is accused of providing his gun to Michael Davis, who is accused of firing it and killing Harris.
“Brandon 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,” Standridge said in a released statement.
Miller’s alleged involvement in the death of Harris was detailed Tuesday at a preliminary hearing for Miles and Davis, who both face capital murder charges in Harris’ death. Culpepper testified that Miles texted Miller to bring him his handgun.
Oats has said the team was aware Miller allegedly brought the gun to Miles.
Standridge said in the statement that Miles asked Miller for a ride to a club. Standridge said Miles brought his “legal handgun and left it in the backseat of Brandon’s vehicle. Brandon never saw the handgun nor handled it.”
Miles later texted Miller to bring him the gun. Miller never got out of his vehicle, was not part of the exchange with Davis and did not interact with anyone in Harris’ party, Standridge said.
Standridge also said Miller quickly drove off when gunfire took place but “has fully cooperated with law enforcement’s investigation” since being told someone was hurt and police wanted to speak to him. The attorney said the events of the shooting were captured on video and that “there is no dispute about Brandon’s activities during this evening.”
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne, speaking on the ESPN College GameDay podcast, said the school learned new information in the case this week that it used to make its decision to let Miller play. He said Oats did not have all facts when he first addressed the media Tuesday — Oats described Miller’s situation as “wrong spot at the wrong time” — and didn’t handle things in the best way.
Said Byrne: “We’ve addressed that with him.”