Alabama freshman forward Brandon Miller offered his first public comments Wednesday since a Feb. 21 court hearing revealed his contact with former teammate Darius Miles the night of Jamea Harris’ murder.

Miller and guard Jahvon Quinerly appeared unannounced alongside Nate Oats at the Alabama coach’s scheduled news conference in Coleman Coliseum before the SEC tournament. It was the first time any Alabama basketball players had been available to reporters since Feb. 18.

Alabama did not announce any parameters on questions for Miller nor did it attempt to interfere with any questions toward Miller, which came from a room of local reporters before national reporters are expected to attend the SEC tournament later this week and the NCAA tournament beginning next week.

Miller was asked for his perspective on the details that were revealed in court.

“I never lose sight of the fact that a family has lost one of their loved ones that night,” Miller said. “This whole situation is just really heartbreaking. Respectfully, that’s all I’m going to be able to say on that.”

Law enforcement testimony revealed Miller and teammate Jaden Bradley were at the scene of the Jan. 15 shooting on the Tuscaloosa bar strip, after which Miles and his friend Michael Davis were charged with capital murder. During their bond hearing Feb. 21, law enforcement testified that Miles left his gun in the back seat of Miller’s car and asked him to bring it to the scene of the dispute, where Davis is alleged to have used it to fire the shot that killed Harris, a 23-year old mother from Birmingham.

Miller and Bradley are not facing any charges and Alabama has cited Miller’s role as a witness and not a suspect in the case in allowing him to continue to play without discipline. That decision prompted national scrutiny and debate that has followed Alabama during its run to an expected No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Asked to respond to those saying Alabama should have disciplined him, Miller said, “I just lean on my teammates. We just go places to get wins.”

Miller was also asked about Texas A&M fans chanting “Lock him up!” at Miller during Alabama’s loss Saturday in College Station, among other reactions in opposing arenas to his situation.

“We hear the chants,” Miller said. “I feel like we really just lean on each other to go to places like that and pull out tough wins.”

Quinerly was asked how the team reacted to the chants but did not answer. The fifth-year guard, though, answered a general question about the team’s reaction to the scrutiny on Miller.

“I feel like we stayed together as a team and made sure that he was good,” Quinerly said.

When Miller was asked about the challenges of focusing on basketball, he said, “Respectfully, I can’t really say more on that.”

Miller was also asked if anyone suggested he sit out the remainder of the season and prepare for the NBA draft this season, when he is expected to be among the first players chosen.

“I hear a lot of people in ears of chants,” he said. “I just feel like I lean on these guys next to me to build me up to the person I am now.”

Asked about his message to NBA teams, Miller said, “Can’t really speak on what they be getting. I just kind of control what I can control now. Going up to Nashville and get wins.”

Miller won the SEC’s player of the year and freshman of the year awards this week, but was not among the 15 finalists for the John Wooden national player of the year award. He was asked Wednesday what he wanted his legacy to be.

“I want to be remembered as a champion,” he said. “I know JQ has a [2021 SEC tournament championship] ring under his name. … I feel like I can go to Nashville and win another ring. I think that’s the biggest thing for us. I want to be known as a winning team.”

Oats was asked how Miller has handled the attention toward him the past two weeks, and how has changed during that time.

“I’m going to be honest with you: he’s taken this whole situation very seriously since Day 1,” Oats said. “It’s a tough situation for all of us. It’s just sad, to be honest with you. But I never thought Brandon was flippant with any of it, ever. As far as off-the-court goes, not necessarily huge changes, but I didn’t think there needed to be any big changes.

“He’s a great kid that we’re all going through a tough situation together and just trying to lean on each other.”

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.