Basketball sensation Mikey Williams joins LaMelo Ball’s AAU team

Mikey Williams – the No. 15 player in the Class of 2023 and one of the biggest brands in basketball – announced he’s now playing with 1 of 1 Elite, LaMelo Ball’s independent AAU team.

It’s unclear if Williams joining the 1 of 1 team is a short-term move that’ll last only through the weekend’s NY2LA’s event in Louisville, Ky., this weekend, or if it’s a sign of bigger things to come.

The team is fully sponsored by Puma, but they’re independent because it’s not linked with Nike, Adidas or Under Armour like other AAU teams often are.

Mikey Williams became the first American high school basketball player to sign a sneaker deal with a global footwear company. His multi-year deal with Puma at the age of 17 puts him on the same product team as other basketball stars like Breanna Stewart, Skylar Diggins-Smith, LaMelo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Deandre Ayton.

“Mikey signed with Excel Sports Management prior to his junior year of high school,” On3 National Basketball Analyst Jamie Shaw said. “When he didn’t show up for April’s first live period, everyone was asking where he was. Well, the second live period is here, and Mikey will be playing with LaMelo Ball’s program. LaMelo could be called high school basketball’s first celebrity player, the one who paved the way for Mikey. He is now with the Charlotte Hornets and sponsored by Puma.

“For Mikey and LaMelo to hook up, it is big news because this is the second April live period and college coaches will want to see the five-star talent. However, it is something that goes further than just high school basketball. It is a fascinating crossroads that also leans into the world of pop culture, business and NIL as well.”

Mikey Williams: ‘High school basketball’s first celebrity

Mikey Williams has an On3 NIL Valuation of $2.6 million. The On3 NIL Valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time. Williams ranks No. 2 in the On3 NIL 100 and No. 2 in the High School Basketball NIL Rankings.

The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The On3 NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

The On3 NIL 100 is the first of its kind and the defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by market valuation.

Williams has more than 5.9 million combined Instagram, TikTok and Twitter followers, which makes him one of the most marketable high school athletes in history. Experts agree the influence is real both on and off the court.

“Mikey Williams is a captivating talent who has captured the eyes of millions on social media,” Shaw said. “He is universally thought of as a top 20 prospect, but he does not move like other top high school prospects. He has 3.7 million followers on Instagram and there is a line of video cameras at every turn when he is on the floor. Mikey Williams is high school basketball’s true celebrity.”

Four-star center Jordan Butler – who is leaning toward Auburn according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine – is also on Team 1 of 1. The team faces George Hill Elite, which features four-star center Xavier Booker, at 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Will Williams skip college basketball?

Williams also made national headlines 13 days ago when he announced he was returning back to California for his final season of high school basketball.

He played this past season at Charlotte (N.C.) Vertical Academy, a new basketball program in Charlotte created by his father, Mahlon Williams. He’ll return to San Ysidro High School in San Diego. He played there his freshman season before moving to North Carolina. As a sophomore, he played for Huntersville (N.C.) Lake Norman Christian School.

Williams has been rumored as a prospect who could skip college altogether. He could join one of a handful of professional leagues before declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft. He and his father told the Fayetteville Observer in February the plan is for him to attend college for a year before entering the draft, though.