After a night of racing against South Carolina, the Alabama star freshman Brandon Miller was a major topic of conversation on Thursday.
Miller has been linked to the death of Jamea Harris in January after police testimony linked his involvement with allegedly transporting a former teammate. Darius Miles’s Gun which was used in the shooting.
Nick Pringle, #23, talks with Brandon Miller, #24, of the Alabama Crimson Tide as they return to the bench during a basketball game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on February 22, 2023 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, Carolina from the south. . (David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Amid chants of «lock him up» against the Gamecocks, Miller scored a career-high 41 points at 78-76. Alabama win in overtime.
ALABAMA’S BRANDON MILLER SCORED A CAREER-HIGH 41 POINTS IN OT’S WIN AMONG QUOTES LINKED TO FATAL SHOOTING
On Thursday, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith spoke about Miller’s night on «First Take,» applauding his performance on the court and disagreeing with him playing amid the controversy.
«I’m going to applaud Brandon Miller, the basketball player, from the standpoint of putting up with what he was putting up with last night,» Smith said. «And coming out as a freshman and putting on that show on the road, he absolutely showed a level of mental toughness that I believe in nba scoutsPeople at the next level will look, assuming there’s nothing coming from this from a legal perspective for him, they’ll look at that level of mental toughness and find a way to applaud him.»
Stephen A. Smith attends SiriusXM’s Super Bowl LVII on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
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«But as a young man, I want Brandon Miller to think about this: You didn’t pull the trigger, you didn’t shoot anybody, and that’s important to say,» Smith continued. “But it’s also important to say this: If you didn’t have that firearm to keep Darius Miles and the person he was with, a 23-year-old would probably still be alive. to do with it, it’s something that should make it really, really, really hard for you to sleep at night instead of pumping your chest to people booing you.»
Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, issued a statement hours before the ad began clarifying that the prominent freshman «never saw the gun» belonging to Miles, who has since been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of harris near the university campus in January.
«On January 14, Brandon played in an afternoon basketball game and was later asked by Darius Miles to drive him to the Strip area for a nightclub,» the statement read, via the Tuscaloosa Patch.
Brandon Miller, #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide, after defeating the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena on February 11, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
«Mr. Miles brought his legal weapon and left it in the backseat of Brandon’s vehicle. Brandon never saw the gun or handled it. Additionally, we understand the gun was hidden under some clothing in the backseat of his car. «.
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The statement went on to say that instead of going into the nightclub, Miller went off to get food. Miles later contacted him to pick him up to go to a different location and while already on his way, Miller received a text from Miles asking him to «bring him your firearm.»
Gregory Jackson II, #23 of the South Carolina Gamecocks, defends Brandon Miller, #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide, as he drives to the basket during a basketball game on February 22, 2023 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina . (David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Miller’s attorney claimed that he never «interacted with anyone in Ms. Harris’s party» or with Michael Lynn Davis, who is also charged with capital murder. He also disputed the claim that Miller’s vehicle blocked the path of the car in which Harris was a passenger at the time of the shooting.
Miller has not been charged with any crime.
In a January statement to Fox News Digital, Miles «maintains his innocence» and is «heartbroken» for the victim’s family, his attorneys said.
Paulina Dedaj of Fox News contributed to this report