Shannon Sharpe has given a withering assessment of Brandon Miller after he was jokingly ‘patted down’ before Alabama’s game on Saturday – days after police revealed his connection to a murder case.
Miller has walked on to the ‘pat down’ before during the season but he ignorantly continued with the gesture days after police revealed his link to the murder case involving his former teammate Darius Miles.
Tuscaloosa police testified that the freshman forward Miller, 20, transported the gun to Miles, a then-teammate that was used in a fatal shooting last month where a 23-year-old mother was killed.
Michael Lynn Davis and former Alabama player Miles are facing capital murder charges. Miller brought the gun to Miles, who was dismissed from the program after his arrest. Davis has been identified as the shooter. Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, has said his client didn’t see the weapon.
Police have also added that there is nothing they can charge Miller with, but his actions on the weekend still left Sharpe furious as he discussed the matter with Skip Bayless on Monday morning.
Shannon Sharpe has been left stunned by Brandon Miller’s ‘pat down’ walk on at the weekend
Miller’s gesture came after police revealed his connection to a shooting that killed a woman
‘I understand he had been doing this routine but once you become part of a murder investigation, you let that go. It’s inappropriate,’ Sharpe said. ‘Someone tragically lost their life and to the young woman’s family, I am so sorry what has transpired. It is senseless, it should not have happened.
‘It’s not funny, it is not cute. What’s funny about a black man being patted down? Do you understand what is going on in America? You think that’s cute? I don’t.
‘I’ve been a college student, I’ve been a teenager. Some things, somebody shouldn’t have to tell you. There are a million different introductions or celebrations you can do.
‘That’s the one that resonates with you? That’s the one that you want people to know you for? That’s the one you want to get attention for, even though you are part of an active murder investigation you still think this is appropriate, young man?’
Nate Oats, the Alabama coach, has defended Miller’s involvement in the team but said after Saturday’s game that his introduction was ‘inappropriate… it definitely will not happen again.’
Miller has also since deleted his Twitter account as the backlash against him continues.
‘I’m glad your coach pulled you aside,’ Sharpe added. ‘That being said he’s part of the investigation and it used to be innocent until proven guilty. Now it’s guilty until proven innocent. He is playing and rightfully so. I think that’s the right thing to do. I am glad his coach said it was inappropriate and it won’t happen again.
‘Now, as of this morning, he has deactivated his Twitter account and that is not a bad idea either. But this should have stopped a long time ago, I wish it had never started.
Miller is Alabama’s star player and is expected to declare for the NBA after the season is over
Jamea Harris, 23, of the Birmingham area was shot and killed, police have confirmed
‘There are a lot of other celebrations, young man, that you could do. Being patted down, there is nothing cute about that. I’m surprised the coach let it go on this long.’
As for the incident itself, Oats dismissed Miller’s involvement as ‘wrong spot at the wrong time’ in the incident that cost 23-year-old Jamea Harris her life.
It’s another moment that doesn’t sit well with Sharpe.
‘I had teammates Skip, I know what they do,’ he said. ‘Somehow, things just follow them out of the store. No matter the store, the convenience store or the mall. It did not matter.
‘I knew what they were capable of. They could not ride in my car. They were my teammates. I knew who and what to give a ride to.
‘You’re not going to put me in harm’s way – you are not gonna get the headlines, I’m gonna get the headlines. I already knew that.’
Last Tuesday, Tuscaloosa detective Branden Culpepper testified that Miles texted Miller on January 15, asking his then-teammate to bring his gun to an off-campus area, where 23-year-old Harris was later shot and killed. Miller allegedly complied, driving the gun to Miles and Davis, who are both facing capital murder charges for Harris’ death.
When Miller arrived at the scene, he allegedly contacted Miles in a text message, writing that ‘the heat is in the hat,’ and adding that ‘there’s one in the head,’ according to Culpepper. As the detective explained, Miller was allegedly indicating that there was a gun in a hat inside his car with a round in its chamber.
Nate Oats (right) dismissed Miller’s involvement in the case as ‘wrong spot at the wrong time’
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
Tuscaloosa chief deputy district attorney Paula Whitley told AL.com that there was nothing they could charge Miller with.
As for Saturday’s game, Miller top-scored with 24 points as Alabama beat Arkansas 86-83.
His first game back was last Wednesday, against South Carolina, where fans in the stadium taunted Miller with chants of ‘lock him up’.
Alabama said in a statement: ‘UA Athletics continues to cooperate fully with law enforcement in the on-going investigation of this tragic situation.
‘Based on all the information we have received, Brandon Miller is not considered a suspect in this case, only a cooperative witness.
Miller is expected to declare for the NBA draft following the season. He is projected as a probable top five overall pick.
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