Author: Monojit Mandal
Brandon Miller, former Alabama basketball player and rising NBA prospect, has said he will not face charges in connection with a deadly shooting near the Tuscaloosa campus on January 15. The 20-year-old expressed optimism that the terrible tragedy would have no influence on his future.
The shooting death of Jamea Harris, 23, earlier this year raised doubts about Miller’s role. Tuscaloosa police said Miller gave his friend Darius Miles a firearm, which was eventually used to kill the victim by another person, Michael Lynn Davis. Miller’s lawyer, on the other hand, claimed that he never handled the firearm and had no knowledge of the subsequent incident. Miller was not arrested in connection with the crime, unlike Miles and Davis. Nate Oats, his coach, described the scenario as being in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.
Miller initially refused to mention what happened during a press conference in Manhattan on Wednesday, saying: “That’s something I can’t talk about here”. Later, however, he expressed confidence that he would not be prosecuted. If the current draft order holds, Miller will be chosen as the second overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets or as the third overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers. He reiterated his optimism that the incident would have no impact on his draft status, stating that NBA clubs had conducted background checks and recognized his positive character.
The 6-foot-9 power forward is still focused on his basketball career and is optimistic about being selected among the top picks on Thursday night.
Miller’s performance on the court has been exceptional. Miller was widely recognized as one of the best players in the country in the 2022-23 season, despite a disastrous NCAA Tournament in which he scored just nine points as Alabama lost to San Diego State in the Sweet 16. He had remarkable statistics, averaging 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 85.9% from the free throw line. Miller also demonstrated his long-range shooting ability, hitting 38.4% of his 3-point attempts, which bodes well for his professional aspirations.
As for his future team, Miller’s future remains unknown. Both the Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers have excellent point guards, which could make their main competitor, Scoot Henderson, outdated on their teams. As a result, trade rumors have emerged about the second and third picks, where Miller is expected to be chosen.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1039x145:1041x147)/brandon-miller-alabama-basketball-022323-4b58a72ab97944a3b10b8b6475be5d58.jpg)
Despite the uncertainty, the Charlotte Hornets evaluated Miller thoroughly, inviting him to a workout in the presence of none other than Michael Jordan, the team’s principal owner at the time. Despite the fact that Jordan sold his primary ownership in the company to Gabe Plotkin, pending permission from the league, Miller indicated that he was not anxious during the exercise. Jordan, he said, was a wonderful person who made him feel at ease and motivated him.
Brandon Miller is trying to put the terrible shooting event behind him and focus on his goals of being a professional basketball player as the NBA draft approaches. The young forward is convinced that his skills, his character and his excellent performance in college will overcome any reservations that NBA organizations may have, consolidating his position as one of the best candidates in the league.