The Big Story Saturday Will Be Alabama's Brandon Miller and It Shouldn't Be

Freshman phenom's ties to a mother's murder is overshadowing all of college basketball

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Feb 23, 2023 11:43 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – This was originally going to be a piece about how Arkansas suddenly finding its stride on the basketball court alongside all the turmoil drawing a great deal of energy and attention at Alabama was setting up a perfect storm for the Razorbacks to pull off an upset in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

But that's a story, no matter how many caveats and clarifications about how this isn't a celebration of things going tragically wrong in Alabama, that simply can't be written.

Things are in chaos in Tuscaloosa because of a series of very dumb decisions that cost a young mother to a 5-year-old boy her life. It feels wrong, and frankly a little dirty, for college basketball to be a part of the discussion in any way.

Whether freshman Brandon Miller is on the floor Saturday will be the biggest sports news of the weekend and among the biggest news stories period in American news.

If he is, Arkansas will be put in a role that shouldn't be theirs, nor anyone else's – the country's representative in taking down what is quickly becoming the sports world's greatest villain for choosing basketball and a possible national championship run over decency and respect for the deceased mother, Jamea Harris, and her family.

For those who have been disconnected from any possible news of what has gone on, Detective Braden Culpepper testified in court earlier this week that three Alabama basketball players were on the scene when Michael "Buzz" Davis starting shooting into a black Jeep occupied by Harris, her boyfriend and her cousin back in January.

Two of those three players, Darius Miles and Miller, directly took actions that led to the murder of Harris according to the testimony. The third Crimson Tide player, freshman Jaden Bradley, was not linked to actions that resulted in the murder during Culpepper's testimony, being described essentially as a witness instead.

While it would be inefficient to rehash the entire testimony, especially considering a recount is linked a couple of paragraphs back, here is a very scaled back summary.

Miller dropped off Miles and Davis at a night spot near the university, then brought a gun owned by Miles to him at approximately 1:45 a.m. when texted to do so.

Culpepper reportedly described a Dodge Challenger and a Dodge Charger, cars reportedly owned by Bradley and Miller, blocking the road where the Jeep was parked.

Davis and Miles got into the back of Miller's car where Miles handed the gun to Davis and let him know it was loaded and ready to go. Miles then moved his girlfriend, who was reportedly on the scene, out of the way to avoid her possibly being hit before Davis began firing on the Jeep.

When Harris' boyfriend returned fire, he hit Miller's vehicle with two shots before speeding off and seeking help from the police. Davis was also hit by the return fire.

The only 911 call reportedly made was by Miles, who lied to police by saying that he had been in his apartment when Davis showed up injured as a victim of a shooting.

A statement provided by Miller's attorney was cited by the university as part of the reason why Miller was allowed to play Wednesday night when he dropped 41, including hitting a shot to send it to overtime against South Carolina and the eventual game winner with a second left.

It admits Miller was texted to bring the gun and that he did transport the gun to the scene, but attempts to paint a picture that, despite being asked to bring Miles his gun, that Miller didn't know he had the gun with him. It also says that Miller couldn't have known Miles intended to have the gun that he demanded be brought to him out of the blue at 1:45 a.m. used in any way.

How Miller was allowed to play in the game is simply dumbfounding.

Set aside the fact that Miller hasn't been charged with anything at this point. That, on its face, is enough to warrant not kicking Miller off the team for now in this world of non-stop lawsuits.

However, given the testimony that had just been given the previous day, leaving Miller back in Tuscaloosa or at least at the team hotel would have been the prudent decision.

The heat he was undoubtedly going to take that game, along with the national spotlight that was going to be placed on him that would further link his name to the murder, was more than enough justification to keep him out at least until things cool down a little bit.

It was a selfish decision by the university, even if Miller would have pushed back on it.

Running him out there, having him score 41 while the rest of the team on managed 37, seeing him hit the end of regulation shot and the ultimate winning shot, only made things worse for Alabama.

The building was packed and the crowd was hot. They were laying into Miller at all times, chanting "Lock him up!" and "Guilty" at various times throughout the game.

South Carolina, a struggling team that Alabama should have been able to beat without Miller, fed off the crowd and came a half-court bank shot that rimmed out away from pulling the upset.

Had Miller not be there, the Crimson Tide probably would have still won because of the change in atmosphere that would have taken place in Miller's absence.

However, had they lost, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal because the NCAA selection committee would have written it off as a team focused on more important matters and not having Miller on the floor.

Instead, Alabama is seen as a school ignoring the implications of a murder because its star freshman is the only way they can win, and without him, the national championship hopes go away. That's an image especially crystalized now for those outside the sports world given Miller's performance Wednesday night is all they know about him as a player and the Tide as a team.

Even Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne admitted to ESPN that it's fair to view this as special treatment for a star player.

After all, Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said earlier this week that the university has known everything that happened from the very beginning, yet chose to immediately suspend Miles, an injured bench player, but not Miller.

Of course, the things Oats has had to say these past few days have caused a great deal of problems for the university. Last night he offered what is at least his third clarification of statements to the media as he began his press conference, and it is easy to envision even more will be needed.

Oats has been hammered repeatedly for the things he has said over the past few days that have come off as more concerned about basketball than the murder of this mother and the role his players played in it.

Following the testimony, Oats described the situation as a college kid being "in the wrong spot at the wrong time" and immediately followed that by saying that it's something he's sure NBA scouts will ask about.

Describing someone bringing a gun to a murder scene as unfortunately a wrong place, wrong time scenario and then addressing how it might impact how NBA scouts might see it didn't land well.

But then again, neither did his comments after the game.

Oats wasn't willing to address why Miller was allowed to play against South Carolina outside of saying his athletic director already spoke about it earlier.

Yet, he had no issue with showing pride in how tough Miller is to block out this "distraction" so he could really show out against the Gamecocks.

"One of the most mentally tough kids I've ever coached," Oats said afterward. "Not surprised he came ready to play and played well tonight.

"It could've been a distraction. But Brandon showed up."

By the time Arkansas arrives in Tuscaloosa, this week will probably feel like it was a month from Hades for those in the Alabama program.

If Miller shows up Saturday and has a great game, it won't matter for either team in regard to their future as far as getting into the NCAA Tournament is concerned.

Even if Miller shows up and has a terrible game, causing Alabama to lose, it won't affect the future in the grand scheme of things.

However, had Brandon Miller not shown up at nearly 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15, it would have affected a lot of futures.

Harris would be home with her son.

Miles would be at practice and Davis would be waiting for his best friend to finish up so they can hang out.

Oats would be talking about breaking down film on Nick Smith, Jr.

But, just like Wednesday night against South Carolina, Miller showed up and delivered.

And that's why, if he plays, the whole country will be pulling for Arkansas to take down Alabama at Coleman Coliseum, just 1.5 miles from where Harris' son Kaine lost his mother.

The family of Jamea Harris has set up a GoFundMe for Kaine. Those interested in donating can find additional information here.