Walking onto a college basketball court, you dream of buzzer-beaters, not prison bars. But that dream turned into a courtroom date for former Alabama forward Darius Miles.
Miles, once a promising name in college hoops, now faces a capital murder trial starting December 1.
The 23-year-old has been sitting in Tuscaloosa County Jail since January 15, 2023, after police arrested him in connection with the deadly shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. It’s a case that’s rocked the Alabama community, stunned the sports world, and left more questions than answers.
The trial will unfold at the Alabama Circuit Court, nearly two years after Harris lost her life near the university campus. Prosecutors believe Miles handed the gun to his childhood friend, Michael Lynn Davis, the same weapon Davis used to fire into Harris’s Jeep during a late-night shootout with her boyfriend, Cedric Johnson.
Davis Found Guilty, Darius Miles Awaits Fate
Michael Lynn Davis didn’t walk out of his trial. In May, a jury found him guilty of capital murder. Judge Daniel Pruet later sentenced him to life without parole.
Now, it’s Miles’ turn to face the court. Prosecutors argue that he played a crucial role by supplying the weapon. Davis’s defense team claimed he acted in self-defense. Miles’ legal strategy, however, hasn’t been entirely laid out yet.
Ex-Alabama player Darius Miles leaving the court room today after learning his capital murder trial is set for Dec. 1 pic.twitter.com/lgaeIV1TpY
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) July 11, 2025
Brandon Miller, now an NBA player with the Charlotte Hornets, adds another layer to this complex case. At the time of the shooting, he was Miles’ Alabama teammate.
During Davis’s trial, Tuscaloosa police testified that Miller delivered the firearm to Miles. Miller’s lawyers insist he never touched the gun and had no idea what would happen. He hasn’t been charged, but whether he’ll testify again in Miles’ trial remains uncertain.
Back in January 2023, Alabama wasted no time. The university dismissed Miles from the basketball team on the same day of his arrest. He had played 53 games and averaged 4.2 points. Since then, his name has been tied more to courtroom filings than box scores.
With Davis already sentenced and the death penalty off the table for Miles, this December trial could finally bring clarity to a case.
