Mikey Williams and Memphis basketball: What’s next? His advisers explain

Will Mikey Williams play for Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway this season?

“We’re very optimistic people,” Pat McCain, Williams’ manager and uncle told The Commercial Appeal Friday. “So, if you ask me, that’s absolutely the plan. If we can make that happen, that would be outstanding.”

Whether or not Williams can, in fact, turn his plan into reality is out of his hands. Memphis – the university, the athletic department and Hardaway – had not addressed the most recent development in Williams’ case publicly as of Friday afternoon.

Williams, 19, was arrested in April after a shooting that took place outside his California home on March 27. The social media sensation – who became a millionaire while still in high school thanks to his massive popularity – was facing nine felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon, firing into an occupied vehicle and making criminal threats.

On Thursday, however, Williams agreed to a plea deal that significantly altered the trajectory of the case. He pleaded guilty to a single felony count of making criminal threats. In return, the other eight counts on the complaint were dismissed. As part of the agreement, Williams must complete anger management and gun-safety courses, 80 hours of community service, and avoid any further run-ins with the law prior to his sentencing date, which has been set for Aug. 12, 2024. If Williams meets that set of conditions, the felony count will be reduced to a misdemeanor.

The university issued a statement on Sept. 27, indicating Williams is enrolled in online classes and remains on the roster, while adding he will not be permitted to have access to “team-related facilities or activities until his pending legal process in California is complete.”

“The process to assess and determine his status with the team will be initiated at that time,” the statement reads.

Attorney Randy Grossman, a member of Williams’ legal team that is headed up by Troy P. Owens, told The Commercial Appeal Friday that the ball is in the school's court.

“I don’t know, that’s up to the university,” he said.

Grossman noted that his client already has completed the requisite gun-safety course. He also said Williams already has begun anger management counseling.

“I will tell you, (Williams) has already done thousands of hours of community service before this ever took place,” Grossman said. “I’m confident he’ll burn through five times the 80 hours before August.”

But that doesn't necessarily mean he will join this year's team. Memphis (5-1) plays Saturday at Ole Miss (1 p.m., ESPN2), the first of three road games over an eight-day span.

Grossman said the plea deal has been in the works for some time. Williams’ legal team held a virtual meeting on Zoom “the week before Thanksgiving” with key members of the university’s leadership team − including athletic director Laird Veatch and Hardaway − to keep them abreast of the situation, according to Grossman. But that meeting was apparently kept close to the vest by those involved. On Thursday, multiple athletic department staffers told The Commercial Appeal that Thursday’s news was the first time they had heard any mention of Williams’ name in weeks.

Hardaway has remained staunchly supportive of Williams since his arrest in April. He was most recently asked about Williams on Oct. 25.

"I think this young man is, obviously, going through something,” Hardaway said at the time. “He hasn't been found guilty of anything, so we just have to continue to support him."

Grossman said the NCAA and American Athletic Conference also might have a say in the matter. He said he has reviewed those bodies’ bylaws pertaining to situations like this and called the language “a bit nebulous.”

“(But) there’s nothing that says, ‘If it’s a felony, you’re out,’” Grossman said. “There’s also nothing saying, ‘If it’s a misdemeanor, you can play.’

“So, we shall see. From my position, (Williams is) certainly free. There are no prohibitions against traveling to Tennessee or any types of things like that.”

While McCain is steadfast about Williams playing for Memphis this season, he admits he can not yet speak definitively.

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“I know (Hardaway) will do his due diligence. And, if we come up short, we’re still OK,” said McCain. “There are still other options, like for next (season). We can put it off to next year and what have you. But we’re looking for this year.”

No matter how it unfolds from here, McCain and Grossman said Williams is enormously appreciative of the way Hardaway and the university supported him throughout the six-plus month ordeal.

“1000 percent,” Grossman said. “For Penny to say, ‘Hey, I’m gonna stick by you,’ I think that meant the world to him. There are other coaches and universities who may have just said, ‘You know what, we’re done here.’”

“That speaks volumes for the character of Penny and of (the University of) Memphis,” McCain said. “Can you imagine when this kid hits that floor? It’s just gonna electrify the city of Memphis and the world. He’s so ready.”

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, Memphis basketball: What’s next? His advisers explain