Alabama says Brandon Miller will play against South Carolina

Alabama freshman Brandon Miller will play South Carolina on Wednesday night, the school announced about 3.5 hours before the tip, although Tuscaloosa police testified a day earlier that the star brought up front a now-former teammate had used the pistol to kill a woman in January.

“UA Athletics continues to fully cooperate with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation of this tragic situation,” Alabama said in a statement. “Based on all the information we have received, Brandon Miller is not considered a suspect in this case, only a cooperative witness. Today’s testimony from Brandon’s attorney adds additional context that the university considered as part of its fact-finding review. Based on all the facts we’ve gathered, Brandon remains an active member of our team.”

Tuscaloosa detective Branden Culpepper testified Tuesday that Miller brought him Darius Miles’ gun the night 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris was shot dead after Miles texted him requesting it.

Miles, who has since been removed from the Crimson Tide basketball program, and Michael Lynn Davis are charged with the murder of Harris, who was shot near campus in the early hours of January 15. Miles admitted to providing the gun according to investigators used in the shooting, but Davis said he fired the gun.

Miller has not been charged with a felony, and Tuscaloosa Assistant District Attorney Paula Whitley told AL.com on Tuesday that “there is nothing we can indict.” [Miller] with.”

Jim Standridge, one of the attorneys representing Miller, released a statement earlier Wednesday seeking “to provide additional facts on behalf of Brandon in response to misstatements in yesterday’s reporting about Brandon.”

Standridge wrote that Miller never saw the pistol and that it was “hidden under some clothing in the back seat of his car”. Miller was already on his way to pick up Miles when Miles texted him to get him his gun, according to Standridge, and never touched the gun or was involved in its exchange with Davis. He was also unaware of the previous confrontation between the two parties. Standridge wrote that Miller did not get out of his car and had already parked his car when Johnson’s Jeep pulled up behind him, not intentionally blocking his exit.

Miller, whose windshield was hit by gunfire, left when the shooting began.

“All of the events described above are clearly captured on video,” Standridge wrote. “There is no argument about Brandon’s activities that evening.”

After the police statement, Tide coach Nate Oats said the school knew about it, adding that Miller was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

On Tuesday night, Oats clarified what he called “unfortunate remarks.”

“We have been notified by law enforcement that other student athletes were in the vicinity, and law enforcement has repeatedly informed us that no other student athletes are suspects,” Oats said. “They were only witnesses. Our understanding is that they were all completely honest and cooperative.” “It was in no way my intention to downplay the seriousness of this situation or the tragedy of that night. My prayers continue to go out to Jamea Harris’ family.”

Miller, a 6-foot-9 small forward, is the highest-ranked NBA prospect playing in college this season and is expected to go at No. 5 in ESPN’s latest 2023 NBA draft rankings. He averages 18.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and shoots 42.9% from 3-point range for the No. 2 Tide (23-4, 13-1 SEC).