Attorney: Mikey Williams chose to transfer because Memphis did not make his return 'a priority'
The attorney for Mikey Williams says the former top recruit and social media sensation entered the transfer portal this week because the University of Memphis had shown that his rejoining the basketball program was “not a priority.”
In a statement sent to Yahoo Sports on Wednesday night, attorney Troy P. Owens said Williams hoped to be able to play for Memphis this season after reaching a plea deal in his gun case on Nov. 30.
Owens said weeks went by, and Williams stopped receiving responses from Memphis about his status. Then Williams learned that the committee that was reviewing his situation would also decide if he would be allowed to play for Memphis during the 2024-25 basketball season.
“This was not something that Mr. Williams even thought was up for discussion,” Owens said. “This caused him to take immediate action to protect the prospect of him playing collegiate basketball in the 2024-2025 season.”
Williams put his basketball career in jeopardy last spring when he was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Angry that visitors unexpectedly showed up late at night to the $1.2 million hilltop home he owns east of San Diego, Williams allegedly threatened to shoot them. Then he allegedly fired a handgun at their vehicle as they drove away, damaging the trunk and rear windshield but leaving all six occupants unharmed.
The nine felony charges that Williams initially faced carried a penalty of up to 30 years in prison, but his attorneys were able to negotiate a plea deal to help him avoid jail time.
The plea deal requires Williams to complete 80 hours of community service and attend cognitive behavior therapy, gun safety and anger management classes. If he successfully completes those conditions and has no new legal issues before his Aug. 12 sentencing hearing, the single felony charge against Williams will be converted to a misdemeanor.
Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway voiced support for Williams throughout his legal battle, but Williams did not practice or play for the Tigers. The heralded incoming freshman was enrolled in online classes and remained on the roster but did not have access to team facilities or activities.
Owens said Williams’ decision to leave Memphis was a product of his desire to “protect his athletic future.”
“Had the committee ruled that Mr. Williams could NOT play in the 2024-2025 season, he faced the possibility of missing two years of basketball,” Owens said in the statement to Yahoo Sports. “This was not something that Mr. Williams was willing to risk.”
News of Williams' departure came the same day that his former high school teammate, JJ Taylor, also announced that he was leaving Memphis and entering the transfer portal. Williams committed to Memphis in November 2022 at the same time as Taylor, a fellow four-star prospect.
Williams’ transfer has drawn outsized attention in Memphis and beyond because of his social media fame. Once a young phenom trumpeted as the best player in the 2023 class, Williams amassed more than 1 million social media followers before he played his first high school basketball game. He became one of the early faces of the name, image and likeness era, signing a lucrative, first-of-its-kind endorsement deal with Puma as a junior in high school.
Even before his arrest, however, Williams’ star had begun to fade. He plummeted to No. 71 in Rivals’ final Class of 2023 rankings after he stopped participating in major grassroots events and underwhelmed during his senior season. Many major colleges stopped recruiting him, and interest from NBA scouts cooled.
It's unclear what Williams' next step will be, but it appears that he's intent on playing college basketball. Asked whether Williams could explore turning pro and playing overseas or in the G-League, Owens told Yahoo Sports on Thursday morning, "At this time, Mr. Williams is only considering NCAA basketball options."
