Memphis freshman, former top recruit Mikey Williams releases statement on transfer decision

The attorney for former top recruit Mikey Williams outlined why the Memphis freshman decided to enter the transfer portal in a statement sent to On3 on Wednesday night, citing the institution was not making Williams’ situation “a priority.”

A social media star and the 52nd-ranked prospect in the 2023 cycle, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound shooting guard was charged with nine felony counts after a shooting near his $1.2 million home in Jamul, California. Gunshots were fired at a Tesla Model 3 with six occupants, none of whom was injured.

Williams pled guilty to one count of criminal threatening on Nov. 30, which could be reduced to a misdemeanor if he completes 80 hours of community service. He would also have to take anger management and gun safety courses. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.

Earlier this week, Memphis released a statement that Williams would enter the transfer portal. He enrolled this fall and was taking online classes but had yet to practice with the team. According to the statement sent by Williams’ attorney, Troy Owens, the decision to leave the Tigers was related to the institution possibly not allowing the former four-star recruit to play the 2024-25 season.

“Weeks went by and Mr. Williams stopped receiving responses from the University,” Owens said in the statement. “It became clear to Mr. Williams that having him play this season was not a priority for the University. What was even more frustrating was that Mr. Williams learned that the committee [review] was also going to decide whether, or not, he would be allowed to play in the 2024-2025 season even after being sentenced to a misdemeanor.

“This was not something that Mr. Williams even thought was up for discussion. This caused him to take immediate action to protect the prospect of him playing collegiate basketball in the 2024-2025 season.”

Williams became the first American high school basketball player to ink a multi-year deal with Puma. At the time, the prep phenom had more than 5 million combined Instagram, TikTok and Twitter followers. Puma’s thought was working with the 2023 combo guard would get its foot in the door early working with an up-and-coming basketball and social media star.

Memphis released a statement in September confirming Williams was taking online classes remotely but wouldn’t be allowed to join the basketball team until his legal issues were resolved. Where he lands in the transfer portal remains to be seen. But there’s no doubt that schools will be intrigued to land the shooting guard once his legal matters are settled.

Owens went on to write in his statement that leaving the Memphis program was a move Mikey Williams had to make to “protect his athletic future.”

“Remaining on the roster at the University of Memphis meant that, 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,” Williams’ attorney wrote. “This was not something that Mr. Williams was willing to risk.”