Brandon Miller is set to embark on his NBA career, but recent events have reminded him of his college days.
Miller, a rookie for the Charlotte Hornets, was the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, he has now been named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit involving the killing of a woman during his time at the University of Alabama, according to ESPN.
The lawsuit, filed by the woman’s family, also implicates former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and Michael Davis, both facing capital murder charges related to the shooting death of Jamea Jonae Harris.
Despite Miller’s alleged involvement in delivering the gun used in the crime, he was not charged. Prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove he knew the gun would be used in a crime.
The lawsuit claims that all three defendants should have known the consequences of bringing a dangerous weapon to a dispute, resulting in serious harm to Harris.
Although Miller faced no charges and had no official repercussions at Alabama, the incident continued to haunt him during his college career. Despite the controversy, he was still highly regarded as a player and led Alabama to the NCAA tournament as the top seed, although they were eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen.
During the NBA Draft process, Miller faced questions about the incident but referred to it as a “lesson learned.” These concerns did not hinder his draft prospects, as he was selected second overall by the Hornets and signed a lucrative $9 million contract.
The attorneys representing Harris’ family hope to hear testimony from all three defendants to investigate the circumstances surrounding the gun’s presence at the scene. They aim to determine the level of culpability, if any, for each defendant.
On the court, Miller struggled during the Summer League and preseason, shooting poorly from the field and behind the arc. However, he is set to make his official NBA debut with the Hornets against the Atlanta Hawks.
