Getty Paul Finebaum believes that if Alabama had revealed Brandon Miller's involvement in the murder of Jamea Harris, that would've been even more damaging
Alabama Crimson Tide basketball was trying to control the story by not revealing more details about Brandon Miller’s alleged involvement in the January shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris sooner, according to sports analyst Paul Finebaum — and “a lot of damage would’ve been done” if the details had gotten out, he said during a February 23 appearance on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile, Alabama.
Miller’s teammate Darius Miles was arrested and charged with capital murder following the shooting near Alabama’s campus on January 15. During Miles’ preliminary hearing on February 21, Tuscaloosa detective Branden Culpepper told the court that Miller brought Miles’ gun to him “after Miles texted him and asked him to do so,” according to the Associated Press.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats said in a press conference the same day that the team had already been aware of the allegations against Miller, who has not been charged with any crimes.
“The real question is should they have gotten this out in the open,” Finebaum said on “The Opening Kickoff.” “I want to say yes. But here’s the danger: If they had told us on Day 1 what they alluded to yesterday, then Brandon Miller would have been the story. A lot of damage would’ve been done since Day 1. Not saying a lot of damage hasn’t been done; it has. I think they were trying to protect him vs. telling the story of what really happened.
“That’s a judgement call by everyone,” he said. “Ultimately, this is a university decision.”
Stephen A. Smith’s Message to Brandon Miller
ESPN sports analyst Stephen A. Smith had a direct message to Miller on the February 23 edition of the network’s “First Take” — and it was one that both praised his resiliency in the face of adversity and implored him to change his brazen behavior in the wake of the loss of an innocent life.
“I will applaud Brandon Miller the basketball player, from the standpoint that to endure what he was enduring last night,” Smith said, according to AL.com. “And to go out there as a freshman and to put on that show on the road, absolutely showed a level of mental toughness that I believe NBA scouts, people on the next level will look at – assuming there’s nothing that comes from this from a legal perspective for him – they’ll look at that level of mental toughness and find a way to applaud that. …
“But as a young man, I want Brandon Miller to think about this – you didn’t pull the trigger, you didn’t shoot anybody, and it’s important to say that,” Smith said. “But it’s also important to say this – if you didn’t have that firearm to provide for Darius Miles and the person that he was with, a 23-year-old young lady probably would still be alive. And for you to have anything to do with that, it’s something that should make it very, very, very difficult for you to sleep at night as opposed to pumping your chest at people who were booing you.”
Nate Oats Says Brandon Miller Pregame Pat Down Ritual Will Stop
Fans noticed before Alabama’s 86-83 February 25 victory over Arkansas that Miller’s pregame ritual involved a teammate simulating a pat down of the 20-year-old star. During the postgame press conference, Oats said that Miller’s pregame pat down ritual will stop.
“Before I get started on the game, it was my brought to my attention after the game about our pregame introductions,” Oats said. “I think that’s something that’s been going on all year. I don’t really know. I don’t really watch our introductions. I’m not involved with them. I’m drawing up plays during that time. Regardless, it’s not appropriate. It’s been addressed and I can assure you it definitely will not happen again for the remainder of this year.”
A spotlight will continue to shine on Miller and the Alabama basketball program as more details emerge from this case.