Alabama star Brandon Miller says he relies on the university to handle threats he has received since his involvement in a Jan. 15 deadly shooting became public knowledge.

Alabama head coach Nate Oats revealed Wednesday that Miller has been on the receiving end of threats as a way of explaining why an armed security guard was accompanying the Alabama freshman in Birmingham for the NCAA Tournament.

“If you guys saw some of what I’ve seen sent his way, I think you would understand why that’s the case,” Oats said. “I don’t want to get into all of that. The entire situation, as you know, is just heartbreaking on all accounts.

“But some of the messages from people that can sit behind fake email addresses, but who knows whether they’re real or not, that I’ve seen — something that nobody would ever want their son [to receive]. I treat my players like my own sons — I don’t have a son, I have three daughters, but I put myself in his parent’s shoes — and our administration has seen the stuff that I’ve seen, and it’s appropriate.

“It’s nothing that a college kid should have to go through. If you were able to see what I’ve seen then you would understand why that’s going on right now.”

Miller addressed the threats for the first time Thursday in the postgame locker room following the Tide’s 96-75 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Miller, who was held scoreless in the game, said that the threats have come through on all platforms and that he forwards them to the university. He said there hasn’t been a specific threat that has stood out and that letting the university handle it is “the best thing for me and the team.”

“I send them to the right people and they handle it,” Miller said.

Miller, who says he has seen the threats, repeated what has been a frequent refrain in recent weeks that he is leaning on his teammates to help him through the situation. When asked the role his parents have also played in the process, he called them “the biggest key in the world now.”

“They are my parents, they are always going to be there for me through everything,” Miller said. “They are with me every day. They are the biggest key in this world now.”

Miller’s involvement in a Jan. 15 shooting that resulted in the death of Jamea Harris become a national story after it came out during a preliminary court hearing. In a Feb. 21 court hearing, law enforcement testified that former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles texted Miller to bring him his gun to the scene of the shooting. Miller’s attorney has said Miller had no knowledge of Miles’ intent when he made that request. Miller is a cooperating witness and is not considered a suspect in the investigation.

Miles and friend Michael “Buzz” Davis were indicted on capital murder charges last week for their involvement in the shooting.