Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats issued an apologetic statement Tuesday evening after his answer to a question about star player Brandon Miller during his midday Tuesday news conference was largely panned by national media.

“I thought it was important for me to clarify the unfortunate remarks I made earlier,” Oats statement began.

Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles appeared in a Tuscaloosa court Tuesday for a bond hearing on a capital murder charge stemming from the Jan. 15 killing of Jamea Harris. During the hearing, a law enforcement officer testified Miles texted Miller to bring him his gun, and Miles later retrieved the weapon from Miller’s vehicle after he arrived. Miles’ friend Michael Davis, also charged with murder, is accused of firing the shot that killed Harris.

As details began to emerge from the hearing Tuesday morning, Oats was asked during his regularly-scheduled news conference about Miller’s involvement, which had not yet been reported.

“We knew about that,” Oats said. “Can’t control everything anybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out, Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time.”

Oats apologized Tuesday evening for that wording.

“This entire time I’ve tried to be thoughtful in my words relative to this tragic incident, and my statements came across poorly,” he said in his statement.

Prosecutors also revealed Tuesday another Alabama player, freshman guard Jaden Bradley, was at the scene of his shooting with his vehicle. Neither Miller nor Bradley has been charged.

“We were informed by law enforcement of other student-athletes being in the vicinity, and law enforcement has repeatedly told us that no other student-athletes were suspects — they were witnesses only,” Oats said in his statement. “Our understanding is that they have all been fully truthful and cooperative.

“In no way did I intend to downplay the seriousness of this situation or the tragedy of that night. My prayers continue to go out to Jamea Harris’s family.”

Alabama plays at South Carolina on Wednesday night. Both Miller and Bradley have played in each game since Miles’ arrest in mid-January.

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