Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway standing by embattled recruit Mikey Williams
Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway continues to voice his support for embattled signee Mikey Williams.
Williams, who was already facing six felony gun charges, was hit with three additional felony charges Tuesday. Williams, who finished his high school career at San Ysidro, was arrested in April on five charges of assault with a weapon and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle. The arrest stems from a shooting that occurred outside his home on March 27.
Hardaway has stood by Williams, who signed with Memphis in November 2022, since the arrest. On Wednesday, he said he will remain in Williams' corner.
"I don't think it affects the program at all," Hardaway said. "I think this young man is, obviously, going through something. He hasn't been found guilty of anything, so we just have to continue to support him."
Williams, the alleged shooter, pleaded not guilty to the initial charges. If convicted on all charges, Williams could spend up to 30 years in prison.
The case is going to trial, with the date expected to be announced Friday.
The three additional charges against Williams come as a result of testimony at his preliminary hearing on Oct. 10. That testimony indicated six people were in the vehicle that was fired upon — which led to an additional count of assault with a weapon — and Williams made threats before the shooting, which precipitated two counts related to that.
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The Tigers' first exhibition game is Sunday, and the regular season begins Nov. 6 against Jackson State at FedExForum.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mikey Williams gets support of Memphis basketball's Penny Hardaway
