Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball

Crimson Tide forward Brandon Miller opened up Wednesday about the shooting that killed a woman near the Alabama campus in January.

"I never lose sight of the fact that family has lost one of their loved ones that night. This whole situation is just really heartbreaking," Miller told reporters, per AL.com's Mike Rodak. "Respectfully, that's all I'm going to be able to say on that."

Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats also shared his thoughts on the matter while speaking with reporters.

"He's taken this whole situation very seriously since Day 1. It's a tough situation for all of us. It's just sad, to be honest with you," Oats said, per Rodak. "I never thought Brandon was flippant with any of it, ever. As far as off-the-court goes, not necessarily huge changes."

Miller, a freshman, brought former teammate Darius Miles the gun that was used to kill 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris on Jan. 15, police in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, said in February, per ESPN.

Miles asked Miller via text message to bring the gun to his location on The Strip, a bar and business area near the Alabama campus, according to police. The firearm belonged to Miles, though he said Michael Lynn Davis fired the weapon in the fatal shooting.

Miles was allegedly sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle when Davis fired the shot that killed Harris, who was the passenger in another vehicle. Surveillance footage and witness statements identified Davis as the shooter.

The driver of the other vehicle, of which Harris was a passenger, approached University of Alabama police officers near Bryant-Denny Stadium after the shooting saying someone shot into the vehicle and he fired back in self-defense. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting occurred after Davis and Miles allegedly got into an altercation with Harris earlier in the night.

Both Miles and Davis are charged with capital murder in the death of Harris. Miles was also dismissed from the Crimson Tide basketball program. Miller has not been charged and Tuscaloosa chief deputy district attorney Paula Whitley indicated he can't and won't be charged.

Miller has continued to play for the Crimson Tide this season and was named the SEC's player of the year and freshman of the year, as voted by the league's coaches. In 31 games, he has averaged 19.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from deep.

Miller also told reporters Wednesday that it has been difficult to play through the criticism he has received for his involvement in the shooting.

"I just lean on my teammates," he said, per Rodak. "We just go places to get wins."

The 20-year-old is a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

Alabama finished first in the SEC this season with a 26-5 record and is now preparing for the SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide have a quarterfinal matchup scheduled for Friday against a to-be-determined opponent.

Alabama head coach Nate Oats said he "dropped the ball" regarding Brandon Miller's pregame introduction before the Crimson Tide's 86-83 victory over Arkansas.

"That situation is on me," Oats told reporters Tuesday. "We addressed as a team and as soon as I brought it up to them, they immediately understood how it could be interpreted and we all felt awful about it. They explained to me that it's like when TSA checks you before you get on a plane and now Brandon's cleared for takeoff."

Oats added he should've been more aware as to how Miller's introduction would've been received outside of the team.

"I dropped the ball. That's it," he said. "I dropped the ball on it. We've addressed it. I can assure you that it won't happen again."

As he walked onto the court, Miller held his arms out and was "searched" as if going through security.

While the freshman forward has been doing the "pat down" gesture all season, it was widely considered tone-deaf given what is happening away from the court.

In January, former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and Michael Lynn Davis were charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Jamea Harris.

A Tuscaloosa Sheriff's Office detective testified on Feb. 21 that Miller transported the gun used in the shooting to the scene after Miles had messaged him to bring it.

Jim Standridge, an attorney for Miller, subsequently issued a statement to say Miles had left the handgun in the backseat of his client's car, and it was "concealed under some clothing in the back seat of his car."

Standridge also said Miller was already on his way to pick up Miles when he received the message requesting the gun, so he wasn't driving to the scene specifically to deliver the firearm.

"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.

Although Miller has not been charged with any crime, Oats and Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne have received criticism for allowing him to continue to play. Some also thought Oats downplayed the severity of the situation when he said Miller was in the "wrong spot at the wrong time."

"There was only one person in the wrong place at the wrong time and it was Jamea," Harris' stepfather, Kelvin Heard, said to AL.com's Joseph Goodman. "When I heard him say that my heart hit the floor. His words cut so deep. It's just downright disrespectful."

Oats subsequently apologized for the remark and said he "used a poor choice of words."

Alabama head men's basketball coach Nate Oats said Saturday that star forward Brandon Miller will cease his pat-down introduction ahead of games moving forward.

Ryan Hennessy of WVTM 13 captured the gesture on video before Alabama's 86-83 home win over Arkansas on Saturday, and Matt Norlander of CBS Sports noted that Miller has been doing it all season:

Per Mike Rodak of AL.com, Oats said he believed the pat-down intro had "been going on all year," but added: "Regardless it's not appropriate. It's been addressed. ... I can assure you it will not happen again for the remainder of the year."

According to ESPN, Tuscaloosa police detective Branden Culpepper testified this week that Miller delivered a handgun to former Crimson Tide teammate Darius Miles that Miles then used in the murder of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris in January.

Culpepper added that Miles texted Miller to bring him a gun, and Miles allegedly told Michael Lynn Davis where the gun was located in Miller's car.

Miles admitted to providing the gun to Davis but said Davis was the one who shot Harris. Both Miles and Davis are facing capital murder charges.

Miller has not been charged with any crimes for his alleged role in providing the murder weapon, and Tuscaloosa chief deputy district attorney Paula Whitley told AL.com's Carol Robinson "there's nothing we could charge [Miller] with."

The University of Alabama has permitted Miller to continue playing, and Oats defended the decision Friday, telling reporters:

"We've been taking it very seriously from Day 1. The first minute that I got the information, I called [AD] Greg [Byrne] and we talked about it and the severity of it. Greg, I thought, did a great job addressing those comments on Wednesday, and I really don't have much to add to it.

"We feel like we've done the right thing in this case. So I'm going to leave it at that with Greg's comments."

Miller is a 6'9" freshman who has been the best player for a Crimson Tide team that is ranked No. 2 in the nation with a 25-4 record this season.

The Antioch, Tennessee, native leads Bama with 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, to go along with 3.1 three-pointers made, 1.9 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per contest.

Miller is making 46.6 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from beyond the arc as well, and he is among the leading candidates to be named national player of the year.

Alabama's only remaining regular-season games are March 1 against Auburn and March 4 against Texas A&M, after which the Tide will play in the SEC tournament and then the NCAA tournament, where they are currently in line to be a No. 1 seed.

Alabama men's basketball coach Nate Oats continued to defend the program's response to Brandon Miller's connection with the fatal shooting of Jamea Jonae Harris.

"We feel like we've done the right thing in this case," he told reporters Friday of himself and athletic director Greg Byrne.

Oats also said: "We've been taking it very seriously from Day 1. The first minute that I got the information, I called Greg and we talked about it and the severity of it. Greg, I thought, did a great job addressing those comments on Wednesday, and I really don't have much to add to it."

A police investigator testified that Miller brought the gun that was used to shoot Harris after former teammate Darius Miles sent him a message requesting it.

Miller's attorney, Jim Standridge, said the freshman forward "never touched the gun" and "never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur."

Miller was also at the scene when the shooting occurred. His vehicle was struck multiple times before he drove away.

Ex-Alabama player Miles, who was immediately dismissed from the team, and another man, Michael Davis, face capital murder charges in the case.

Although Miller hasn't been charged with a crime, Oats and Byrne have drawn criticism for how they've handled the situation.

Oats had to apologize for comments he made Tuesday, when he said Alabama "knew about" the details surrounding Miller and that the player was in the "wrong spot at the wrong time."

On Wednesday, he told reporters he "didn't have the details from the hearing that morning since I was coming straight from practice and I used a poor choice of words, making it appear like I wasn't taking this tragic situation seriously, which we have throughout the course of it."

Speaking with ESPN's Rece Davis, Byrne acknowledged it might look like Alabama was giving Miller preferential treatment because of his status on the team. He countered he felt Miller "needed to be treated fairly, like any other student-athlete should be."

Miller continues to feature for the Crimson Tide and is coming off his best performance in a 78-76 overtime victory over South Carolina on Wednesday. He finished with 41 points and was responsible for the game-tying bucket in regulation and the game-winning shot in overtime.

Harris' stepfather, Delvin Heard, told USA Today's Josh Peter that Oats' handling of the matter has been "godawful." Her mother, DeCarla Cotton, was disappointed with the lack of consequences for Miller so far.

"It's just unimaginable, and it's like his life is just going on,'' she said. "He took a brief pause and it didn't stop. It's like, OK, slap on the wrist and go play ball."

Alabama Crimson Tide freshman forward Brandon Miller was revealed by police to have delivered the handgun to a former teammate that was used to kill a woman last month, and now his attorney is clarifying his involvement in the matter.

"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," Tuscaloosa attorney Jim Standridge said in a statement, per Mike Rodak of AL.com.

During a bond hearing on Tuesday for former Alabama player Darius Miles and his friend Michael Davis, a Tuscaloosa detective testified that Miller had brought Miles' gun to him after Miles asked him to do so in a text message. Miller has not been charged with a crime and it is not expected that charges will be pursued against him.

Standridge confirmed in the statement that Miller received a text from Miles asking him for the firearm, but said Miller was already on his way to pick him up and had no context of the situation Miles was involved in. Standridge also indicated that Miller was unaware he was transporting the weapon.

"Mr. Miles brought his legal handgun and left it in the back seat of Brandon's vehicle. Brandon never saw the handgun nor handled it. Further, it is our understanding that the weapon was concealed under some clothing in the back seat of his car," the statement said.

Miles admitted to police that he provided the gun that was used in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris on Jan. 15, but he said it was Davis who fired the weapon. Both Miles and Davis are facing capital murder charges and had their bond denied on Tuesday.

Upon the revelation of Miller's involvement in the matter, Alabama head coach Nate Oats said the program was already aware of that fact.

"Can't control everything anybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. ... Brandon hasn't been in any type of trouble, nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time," Oats told reporters when asked about Miller.

Oats later clarified his comments in a follow-up statement, saying that they "came across poorly:"

"We were informed by law enforcement of other student-athletes being in the vicinity, and law enforcement has repeatedly told us that no other student-athletes were suspects. They were witnesses only. Our understanding is that they have all been fully truthful and cooperative. In no way did I intend to downplay the seriousness of this situation or the tragedy of that night. My prayers continue to go out to Jamea Harris's family."

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Alabama released a statement confirming Miller's status with the team on Wednesday:

Miller is the leading scorer for the No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide at 18.7 points per game. He's expected to be a top-five pick in the NBA draft this summer.

Standridge stated that Miller has been cooperating with the ongoing investigation into Harris' death and will continue to do so.

Alabama men's basketball coach Nate Oats issued an apology Tuesday night regarding statements he made after it was revealed Crimson Tide player Brandon Miller allegedly provided the gun used in the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman in January.

Oats said his comments "came across poorly" and that "in no way did I intend to downplay the seriousness of this situation or the tragedy of that night."

The head coach had told reporters Miller was "not in any trouble."

"We knew about that," Oats said. "Can't control everything anybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out. Brandon hasn't been in any type of trouble nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time."

Carol Robinson of AL.com reported Detective Branden Culpepper of the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office testified Tuesday that Miller brought the gun after former Alabama player and teammate Darius Miles texted him and asked him to bring it to his location.

Culpepper said when Miles told Michael Davis, the other defendant, that "the heat is in the hat" and "there's one in the head" after Miller arrived, it meant there was a gun present with one round in the chamber.

The testimony occurred as part of a preliminary hearing for Miles and Davis, who have been charged with capital murder in the killing of Jamea Harris.

Tuscaloosa County chief assistant district attorney Paula Whitley was asked by AL.com why Miller wasn't charged and said: "That's not a question I can answer. There's nothing we could charge him with."

Miller, a top NBA draft prospect, remains with the team and has appeared in all 27 games. He leads the Crimson Tide with 18.7 points per game.

An officer with the Tuscaloosa Sheriff's Office testified that Alabama forward Brandon Miller brought the gun used in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old woman in January.

According to AL.com's Carol Robinson, Detective Branden Culpepper said in court that former Alabama player Darius Miles texted Miller to get his gun and bring it to his location.

Once Miller arrived, Culpepper alleged Miles told Michael Davis that "the heat is in the hat" and "there's one in the head," per Robinson. Culpepper said that meant Miles had a gun with one round in the chamber.

Miles and Davis have been charged with capital murder in the death of Jamea Harris.

In January, investigators said Miles admitted to furnishing the handgun used in the shooting but didn't fire the weapon.

Robinson provided details on what allegedly led up to the shooting:

"Testimony from today's court hearing show all involved had gone to Twelve25 Sports Bar that night. Miller dropped Miles off at the club but did not stay because the line was too long.

"After leaving the club, Harris, her boyfriend Cedric Johnson and her first cousin, Asia Humphrey, stopped at a nearby grill to get something to eat. It was then they encountered Davis, who was dancing in front Harris' Jeep."

Miles and Davis left after a verbal exchange with Johnson but returned and retrieved something from the back seat of Miller's car.

Miles initially told police he had been at his apartment when the shooting occurred but later "admitted to contacting Miller to bring him his gun and said Davis had gotten the gun from Miller's vehicle," per Robinson. Surveillance footage and dashcam video from Miller's car refuted his original account.

Davis fired at least eight shots at Harris' Jeep. Harris was shot in the face and drove away until she and Johnson found a police officer. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tuscaloosa chief deputy district attorney Paula Whitley told Robinson that Miller isn't currently facing any charges stemming from the shooting because there's "nothing" prosecutors could formally charge him with.

Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats also downplayed Miller's role in the shooting and said Tuesday that he and school officials were aware of his involvement that night.

"Can't control everything everybody does outside of practice," he told reporters. "Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out, Brandon hasn't been in any type of trouble nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time."

No. 2 Alabama's nine-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday with a 93-69 loss to Oklahoma in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge.

Sooners guard Grant Sherfield dropped a season-high 30 points in the win. Jalen Hill added 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting to give Oklahoma its first win over a ranked opponent since March 10, 2022.

Alabama freshman Brandon Miller was held to 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. It was his lowest-scoring game since Dec. 20 against Jackson State.

The Crimson Tide moved all the way up to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll this week. It's the highest ranking for the program since the 2002-03 season.

Alabama had lost only two games all season coming into Saturday. The 24-point margin of defeat is the worst for the team since March 11, 2016.

The Crimson Tide shot only 37.9 percent from the field and 6-of-22 from three-point range against the Sooners. Alabama's bench outscored its starters 37-32, with Rylan Griffen dropping 15 points in the defeat.

There was nothing in the Sooners' performance to indicate a performance like this was coming. They came into Saturday with an 11-9 record and lost by 27 to TCU earlier this week.

Oklahoma has been flirting with a breakthrough at times this season. It played well in a 70-69 loss to Texas on Dec. 31 and dropped a 62-60 thriller against Baylor on Jan. 21.

This was the most complete game by the Sooners all season. They shot 57.6 percent from the field, made nine of their 13 three-point attempts and stifled an Alabama offense that entered the game ranked 11th in the nation with 83.2 points per game.

The Crimson Tide are still in first place in the SEC standings with an 8-1 record, but this loss does open the door for Tennessee. The Volunteers are 7-1 in conference play and will host Alabama on Feb. 15.

Alabama will return to SEC play on Tuesday when it hosts Vanderbilt at Coleman Coliseum. Oklahoma will look to win back-to-back games for the first time since mid-December when it plays Oklahoma State on Wednesday.

Investigators said in court documents that former Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball player Darius Miles admitted he provided the gun used in the fatal shooting of shooting death of Jamea Harris early Sunday morning in Tuscaloosa, according to the Associated Press.

Michael Lynn Davis, 20, is alleged to have fired the shot that killed the 23-year-old Harris, per Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News. Both Davis and 21-year-old Miles have been charged with capital murder. Miles allegedly was sitting in the passenger seat of the car when the shot was fired from the vehicle.

Authorities said they had obtained surveillance footage showing Davis firing the shot, according to the warrant issued for his arrest, and witness statements identifying him as the shooter.

Miles has been dismissed from the Crimson Tide basketball program.

"They didn't have too many questions," head coach Nate Oats said of the players on Monday. "It's really just more of kind of a grieving process. I mean, they understand the severity of the situation with Jamea. They also understand the severity of the situation with Darius. There's both sides of it, dealing with it."

Miles and his family have maintained his innocence.

"While Darius has been accused of being involved with this tragedy, he maintains his innocence and looks forward to his day in court," attorneys William White, Clayton Tartt and Suzanne Norman said in a statement issued on behalf of the family. "Our firm's own investigation is ongoing, and no further statement will be made at this time."

The shooting took place at a business and bar district near Alabama's campus called The Strip. Authorities allege it occurred after Miles and Davis had an argument with Harris earlier in the night.

Miles, a junior, had appeared in 53 games for the Crimson Tide across three seasons, making two starts.

Alabama Crimson Tide junior forward Darius Miles has been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman in Tuscaloosa.

The University of Alabama released a statement announcing that Miles "has been removed from campus and is no longer a member of the Alabama men's basketball team":

According to Caleb Turrentine of ABC 33/40, local authorities said the shooting happened around 1:45 a.m. Sunday near the University of Alabama campus. The victim was in a vehicle when she was fatally shot, and the driver of the vehicle continued driving until finding a campus police officer for help.

"Police believe the shooting was the result of a minor argument that occurred between the victims and suspects after they encountered each other along the strip," Turrentine stated.

Along with the 21-year-old Miles, 20-year-old Michael Lynn Davis was arrested and charged with capital murder. Turrentine noted that police said Davis was not affiliated with the university, nor was the victim. One of the suspects reportedly was struck by gunfire and suffered a non-life-threatening wound. Both Miles and Davis are being held in jail with no bond.

Miles appeared in six games for Alabama this season and averaged 1.5 points in 6.5 minutes.