Who here is an Alabama fan?

That’s what the prosecutor asked the crowd that showed up for jury duty Monday in downtown Tuscaloosa. And almost everyone raised their hands.

“Majority of us,” said Paula Whitley, the chief assistant district attorney, as she surveyed the room and tried counting.

The capital murder trial of Michael Davis got underway on Monday as prosecutors and defense attorneys began the process of selecting a jury.

Davis is charged in the death of Jamea Harris, who was shot and killed near the Strip in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 15, 2023. Also charged with capital murder is Davis’ friend Darius Miles, who was on the Alabama men’s basketball team at the time.

That’s why 70 people who got called in for jury duty were questioned about Alabama athletics and Alabama basketball.

Davis fired into a Jeep that carried Harris, her cousin and her boyfriend, Cedric Johnson. A police investigator in 2023 testified that both Davis and Johnson fired their guns early that morning near the Strip. According to police, Davis fired first and hit Harris.

John Robbins, attorney for Davis, has argued that Johnson shot first and Davis returned fire “acting in self defense.” Davis was shot in the shoulder and injured. The gun belonged to Miles, per police testimony; Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, has stated in court that Miles provided the gun to Davis for protection.

The trial will resume Tuesday as the juror selection process remains ongoing. The trial is expected to go at least until the end of the week.

Miles, who was removed from the team after his arrest, is not on trial this week, and he does not yet have a trial date set.

But, other former Alabama basketball players are on the list of witnesses who could be called to testify during Davis’ trial this week.

Because the case got so much media attention, it’s expected to be difficult to select the 12 people who will ultimately decide the case. Judge Daniel Pruet said the pool of 70 is twice the size of the typical pool for a murder trial in Tuscaloosa County.

And they all fielded a variety of questions related to sports. Whitley led the efforts.

Is there anyone in the room who just can’t stand Alabama?

Say, an Auburn fan.

That time, no one spoke up.

Whitley continued with the UA-themed questions.

Are there any Alabama basketball fans?

Does anyone know who Brandon Miller is?

Does anyone know who Jaden Bradley is?

Miller and Bradley are former Alabama basketball players who could be called to testify. Miller now plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA, and Bradley transferred to Arizona the season after the shooting.

Neither Miller nor Bradley have been charged with a crime. Both were on the Strip in Tuscaloosa the night Harris died.

If Miller or Bradley came into the courtroom as witnesses, would anyone have problems putting their celebrity aside?

Davis’ defense attorney also brought up Alabama basketball and the former players during his turn to ask jurors questions. Robbins mentioned the Jan. 14, 2023 Alabama vs. LSU game that took place at Coleman Coliseum just hours before the shooting. Robbins asked if anyone in the room was at that game. Robbins even mentioned Miller’s scoring that night: 31 points.

“I do remember that game,” one potential juror said after Robbins jogged his memory.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.