Alabama basketball star Brandon Miller ‘provided a gun to teammate Darius Miles in shooting’

Alabama basketball star and NBA prospect Brandon Miller has been linked to a murder case against teammate Darius Miles after allegedly providing a handgun used to kill a woman in Tuscaloosa last month, according to police.

On Tuesday, Tuscaloosa detective Branden Culpepper testified that Miller received a text message from Miles, who is one of two men accused of murdering Jamea Jonae Harris near the campus on January 15. Miller allegedly complied, bringing the gun to Miles and Michael Lynn Davis, who are accused of shooting and killing Harris.

When Miller arrived at the scene, he contacted Miller to say ‘the heat is in the hat,’ adding that ‘there’s one in the head,’ according to Culpepper.

Miller hasn’t been charged in the case. Davis and Miles were charged with capital murder in January.

Tuscaloosa chief deputy D.A. Paula Whitley declined to tell AL.com why Miller wasn’t charged, saying: ‘That’s not a question I can answer. There’s nothing we could charge him with.’

Alabama basketball star and NBA prospect Brandon Miller (pictured) has been linked to a murder case against teammate Darius Miles after allegedly providing a handgun used to kill a woman in Tuscaloosa last month, according to police

Darius Miles (left) and Michael Lynn Davis (right) have both been charged with capital murder. Miles has since been removed from the Crimson Tide basketball team 

Alabama’s basketball program was already aware of the allegations against Miller.  

‘We knew about that,’ Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats told reporters Tuesday. ‘Can’t control everything anybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. … Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble, nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time.’

Oats insisted Tuesday that the program has been ‘fully cooperating with law enforcement the entire time.’

He also said the ‘whole situation is sad.’

Miller is the Tide’s leading scorer at 18.7 points a game, and is projected to be a top-five pick in June’s NBA Draft. Both ESPN and NBA Draft Net have Miller being taken among the top five picks.

The shooting of Harris occurred on the Strip, which is an area of bars and restaurants frequented by students in Tuscaloosa. She was sitting in the passenger seat of a car when she was struck by a bullet, according to police.

Jamea Harris, 23, of the Birmingham area was shot and killed, police have confirmed

Harris’ boyfriend told police that he returned fire in self defense on January 15, and may have hit a suspect, believed to be Davis. Miller’s windshield was struck twice by gunfire in the shooting, according to AL.com.

Last month, the University of Alabama said in a statement that Miles was no longer on the basketball team.

Miles has maintained his innocence, and his lawyers say he is ‘heartbroken’ over the tragedy.

‘While Darius has been accused of being involved with this tragedy, he maintains his innocence and looks forward to his day in court,’ Miles’ attorneys said in January.

Attorneys for Miles and Davis both requested that their respective clients me released on bond at Tuesday’s preliminary hearing.  

Miles has maintained his innocence, and his lawyers say he is ‘heartbroken’ over the tragedy