Alabama
Hornets rookie Brandon Miller named in Alabama wrongful death lawsuit
Hornets rookie and former Alabama men’s basketball forward Brandon Miller is one of three men named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Jamea Jonae Harris, who was killed in a January shooting near the University of Alabama.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Harris’ mother and representative of her estate, DeCarla Heard, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Western Division, called for a jury trial to give out damages for the incident.
The other two men named are former Alabama player Darius Miles and Michael Davis, who are both facing murder charges for the death of Harris, a Jan. 15 incident in Tuscaloosa for which Miller — the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft — was not charged.
Harris was killed in the early hours of the morning when Miles allegedly opened fire at a car she was riding near the university’s campus while she was visiting a family member.
The lawsuit alleges that Davis and Miller “knew or should have known that bringing a dangerous weapon to a dispute and discharging said weapon would likely result in harm,” according to ESPN.
It also alleges that Harris’ injuries and death were “a direct or proximate consequence of the negligence or wantonness of each of the defendants.”
“They would like to hear testimony from all three of the young men involved concerning what they did, said and saw,” Kirby D. Farris, one of the lawyers representing Heard, said, according to ESPN. “The family would like the opportunity, through their attorneys, to investigate why and how the gun was brought to the scene of a confrontation that resulted in the death of their daughter. Once we have had the opportunity to evaluate the evidence in the case, we can make decisions about the degree of culpability, if any, of each.”
In a statement, Heard’s attorneys also said the family has questions they still want answered.
“Words will never accurately describe the heartbreak we feel in the wake of Jamea’s devastating and unnecessary death,” the statement read, per AL.com. “We have several unanswered questions surrounding the events leading to the shooting death of our daughter and our is hope to get answers.”
Farris’ firm has contacted the attorneys of Davis and Miles and has also spoken to an attorney representing the Hornets, where Miller is about to begin his rookie season.
“Am I surprised that this lawsuit has been filed? No,” Davis’ attorney John Robbins said, according to ESPN. “I haven’t reviewed the lawsuit but Michael will take the appropriate steps to defend himself in this lawsuit as he is in the criminal case.”
In a February hearing, a police investigator testified that Miller was at the scene of the crime and that the gun used in the killing of Harris came from the back of Miller’s car.
In response, Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, said then that Miller had “no knowledge of any intent to use the weapon” and that he “never touched the gun” nor was involved in its “exchange.”
Standridge also said Miller never saw or handled the gun, adding that it was “concealed” under some clothing in the back seat.
Miller signed a contract in July worth $49 million over four years with Charlotte after being taken No. 2 overall in this summer’s draft.
Not many will get to say they played for Nick Saban and Bill Belichick in college.
In fact, Miles McVay might end up being the only one.
McVay, the second-year offensive tackle, will transfer to UNC after spending two seasons with the Crimson Tide, McVay told On3.
McVay is a former four-star offensive tackle in the 2023 recruiting class from East St. Louis, Illinois. He is listed at 6-6, 342 pounds.
McVay saw time in four games as a freshman in 2023, in which he ultimately redshirted. Then in his second season for Alabama, McVay played in all 12 games, primarily on special teams. But he also received some offensive snaps against Western Kentucky, Wisconsin, Missouri, LSU and Mercer.
The transfer portal opened Dec. 9 and will remain open for about another week for all of college football.
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
There are hot starts to a PGA Tour career, then there’s what former Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap did this season en route to being named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
Dunlap, who turned pro after winning The American Express in January, won the prestigious honor in golf on Thursday.
“On behalf of the PGA Tour, congratulations to Nick Dunlap on being named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Nick carved out his place in the PGA Tour record book. To begin 2024 as a collegiate golfer and end it with two PGA Tour victories and among the top-50 players in the FedExCup is truly impressive.”
Not only did Nick Dunlap win twice on tour, he did so in historic fashion. He became the first player in PGA Tour history to win as both an amateur and a professional in the same season.
At 20 years old, he also became the youngest player to be named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year since Jordan Spieth earned the honor back in 2013.
Nick Dunlap won the award thanks to a member vote, with PGA Tour members who played at least 15 events during the 2024 campaign eligible to vote.
Dunlap received 57 percent of the vote, according to the PGA Tour.
Of course, Nick Dunlap’s year began as an amateur college golfer at Alabama. But he played in and won The American Express, then shortly after announced his move to turn pro.
He would later go on to win the Barracuda Championship in July.
Because he played so well, Nick Dunlap finished in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings, qualifying him for the PGA Tour’s signature events in 2025.
Dunlap ended his amateur career as the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He won the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur and the 2023 U.S. Amateur, joining Tiger Woods as the only players to win each title.
Don’t worry. Alabama men’s basketball knows it didn’t play well.
Alabama forward Grant Nelson, in his return to his home state, didn’t mince words talking about the Crimson Tide’s 97-90 victory over North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Wednesday that came down to the final minute.
“We played awful, pretty much the whole game,” said Nelson, a former North Dakota State player. “We came in, we didn’t take these guys seriously. I was telling them, this is a big game on their home court. We’ve got to take these guys serious. They’re playing for a lot.”
It showed. The Fighting Hawks (4-9) battled from start to finish, holding a lead at halftime and even tying the game with two minutes left. Alabama’s 13 first-half turnovers proved problematic early. Then the Crimson Tide (9-2) fixed its turnover problem but stopped playing good defense.
“We got yelled at like we should have,” said Nelson, a Devils Lake, North Dakota native. “I’m sure we’ll continue to get yelled at the rest of this week. But like I said, they played really great. It’s a great team and I think they’ll win a lot of games.”
Alabama coach Nate Oats was particularly frustrated by his defense. North Dakota scored 52 points in the second half, averaging 1.486 points per possession.
“I give North Dakota credit; they wanted this game,” Oats said. “They were ready for it. Great environment. Crowd was great. And our guys didn’t really come out ready to play. Our matchup on (Treysen) Eaglestaff wasn’t great to start. I don’t know that we really ever found the matchup.”
Eaglestaff scored 40 points, making him the first mid-major player to do so against a team ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll since 2012, per ESPN. The Bismarck, North Dakota native kept the Fighting Hawks in it until the end as he hit 15 of 30 and 8 of 18 from deep. Nelson, meanwhile, scored 23 points to go with 10 rebounds.
“Can’t sleep on those North Dakota boys,” Nelson said. “They can really hoop. I’ve known him for a while. I played him when he was here and I was at North Dakota State. I knew he was a great player. Our scouting report was pretty much around him.”
Which made it all the more frustrating that Eaglestaff did what he did.
“I feel like we let ourselves down,” Nelson said. “We’ve got a lot to learn. We’re going to watch video and see what we can do better.”
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
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