When Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey addressed Missouri athletes last September he knew he’d sound like a parent. Sankey handed out little cards stressing the importance of individual “decision-making” as he usually does when speaking to groups. He reiterated that point during a press conference during the SEC men’s basketball tournament.

Sankey spoke on the potential of adding educational courses to member schools in light of the recent legal issues facing former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and former Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Without mentioning any specific individual, Sankey stressed the importance of “decision-making.”

“The key to life is decision-making,” Sankey said. “If can figure out how to make better decisions in life, you’re going to have a better life. … There’s not a lot of good in life that happens between midnight and 5 a.m. unless you’re working at a hospital as a doctor or a nurse because you’re helping people. You have to make decisions in advance about how you’re gonna live and often times decisions in certain areas are the best decisions you make. Where I’m gonna be? Who I’m gonna be around? I’m confident because I’ve asked the question that that type of training, education, counseling and communication is included within our athletic programs. … We’ll have candid opportunities, just like we did back in 2015 after the football team took a stand at Missouri. We had to learn from the summer of 2020. After the shooting in Charleston, I was asked about certain position statements. I’ve been very intentional about some key things. … But recent events will broaden that dialogue.”

A projected top-five 2023 NFL Draft pick, Carter was the subject of an arrest warrant for reckless driving in a January car wreck that killed another player on the football team and a recruiting staffer the morning of Jan. 15. That same day, Miles and his childhood friend Michael “Buzz” Davis were arrested on capital murder charges for their involvement in a fatal shooting on the Tuscaloosa strip.

While the Alabama men’s basketball team made won its SEC tournament quarterfinal matchup against Mississippi State, it was announced Miles and Davis were indicted by a grand jury. Two other players, freshmen Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley, were present at the shooting, which occurred early morning. Miller allegedly drove the murder weapon to Miles while going to pick him up. Both Miller and Bradley were cleared of any wrongdoing by Tuscaloosa police and the university, but have been the topic of national discourse.

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Sankey affirmed the league office has been in contact with the Tide’s program since the shooting. He said Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne called him on Jan. 15. Sankey declined to elaborate on what the conference heard from UA to assure them the situation was handled properly.

“I don’t share those conversations. We have an incredible level of sympathy for the loss of life,” Sankey said. “It’s a tragedy. … From a personal standpoint just heartsick and physically sick to learn the story.

“Training and education are subject to the individual decision-maker. Those are the realities of life.”

Facing national media in Nashville earlier Friday, Oats and Miller fielded questions from the national media on the program’s handling of the shooting and its aftermath. Oats wouldn’t say if he’s contacted the family of 23-year-old victim Jamea Harris. The family spoke to AL.com in February and requested Oats refrain from mentioning Harris until he called them to offer his condolences.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].