Brandon Miller Has Every Right To Play
The best NBA prospect in college basketball brought the gun to a murder scene. He has a right to the same wacky Alabama gun laws as anyone else.
The Situation:
Brandon Miller is the best NBA prospect in college basketball, and the star of the second ranked team in the nation, University of Alabama. Last Tuesday, court records were released that stated Miller brought a gun to the scene where 23 year-old Jamea Jonae Harris was murdered in January.
The investigation is currently ongoing, but Miller continues to play. He even scored 41 points a day after the testimony— his lawyer released a statement just before tip-off.
Headlines like the one above, combined with the loaded nature of any situation where a young woman is killed, have resulted in a consensus among my bubble of East Coast Media Elite: Brandon Miller shouldn’t be allowed to play.
The below exchange between two basketball writers, Haley O'Shaughnessy and Kevin O’Connor, exemplifies the current tension of opinion.
Kevin O’Connor, who covers NBA draft prospects, tweeted out Brandon Miller’s 41 point game a day after the police testimony. Many people, including Haley who I respect very much, found O’Connor’s tweets to be inappropriate. (It’s worth noting that O’Connor replied to his tweet acknowledging Miller’s presence at the crime scene.)
I think the opinion that Miller shouldn’t play is driven by a lack of context of his involvement, so I read local news that included police reports.
A Recounting Of The Night Of The Shooting
The below accounts are all testimonies by police officers, except when noted that they’re by an attorney.
There are many characters at play here, so I’m adding a guide below:
Brandon Miller: star prospect, drove car with gun to crime scene
Darius Miles: former teammate, alleged owner of gun which he gave to shooter Michael Davis
Michael Davis: friend of Darius Miles, alleged shooter of Jamea Harris
Cedric Johnson: driver of Jeep, boyfriend of Jamea Harris
Jamea Harris: passenger in Jeep, killed from shooting
Before a night out, Brandon Miller (star prospect) dropped off former teammate Darius Miles and Miles’ friend, Michael Davis at a nightclub at ‘The Strip’ in Tuscaloosa, but didn’t go in. Miles left his gun in the backseat of Miller’s car.
Miller’s attorney claims the plan was always for Miller to return back to the club to give Miles (former teammate) a ride home.
After leaving the club, Miles and friend Michael Davis (shooter) approached a Jeep. Davis danced in front of the car. After a brief interaction, things got ‘escalated’, and Davis responded, “We don’t want your girl”. Per his attorney, Miles then claims he saw a gun get passed in the Jeep.
After exchanging words, Miles (former teammate) texted Brandon Miller at 1:40AM to ask for the gun, "I need my joint a n****r rl jus got fakin."
Surveillance footage then showed the black Jeep meeting with another car before getting closer to the parking lot where Davis and Miller were, and turning off its lights.
Brandon Miller arrived with the gun in the backseat. Miles then told Davis the gun was present, “The heat is in the hat.” Then Miles confirmed there was a round in the chamber, “There’s one in the head”.
Minutes after Miller arrived, Davis approached the driver side of the Jeep where Johnson (driver) was and said, “I told you I was gonna get you,” before shots were fired.
Davis fired the fatal shot that hit Jamea Harris while Johnson returned fire. Davis was hit in the shoulder, along with Miller’s car.
The Aftermath:
Jamea Harris, a mother of a five year-old has passed away, while Miles was kicked off the team and both he and Davis are being charged with capital murder.
Brandon Miller was not charged with anything because there is no evidence that he knew the gun would be used for an unlawful purpose. Alabama is an Open Carry state with Stand Your Ground laws that heavily favor the gun owner, meaning possessing a firearm over the age of 18 without a permit is legal.
Should Brandon Miller Be Suspended?
It would be hypocritical for the public university of Alabama to suspend a person for behaving within the laws of the state. Those who argue that Miller is culpable maintain he should have known the gun would be used for a crime. But that’s not fair— Miller has the same rights to the insane gun protection laws that gun-toting honkies in the SEC are proud of.
Should Brandon Miller Be Allowed To Play?
We know Miller was not charged with a crime, but whether or not it’s appropriate for him to play depends on whether he violated the code of ethics within head coach Nate Oats’ locker room. I will say that players have been suspended for less— when I was in college, one of my teammates was kicked off the team simply for being an asshole. And at the majority of schools, the proximity alone to a homicide would be enough for dismissal.
But while a Dean of Students must rule by a student handbook, a head coach can apply whatever personal politics they choose, at their convenience. Surely, if this was a bench player— it’d be easier to enforce team rules. But the line between amateur college basketball and a free market economy no longer exists. Oats has a coaching resume to build up to get hired at the next blue blood program.
If Oats made an exception in favor of a deep playoff run (and tournament bonus), then he did as countless coaches have done before him. He, too, acted within his rights.
The NBA doesn’t seem to mind.
“Love Brandon,” one scout said. “If he’s not in any legal trouble, would love to have him.”
“No impact at all NBA Draft wise,” another executive said.
Long as he can shoot that ball!
Caveats:
In the interest of streamlining original thoughts, at many points I failed to be as considerate as possible. This is an ongoing investigation, and my thoughts are based solely on available facts. I hope Jamea Harris’ family heals.