DeAndre Williams is seeking a return to Memphis basketball for the 2023-24 season.
Williams announced the news in a prepared statement late Wednesday afternoon.
“If the opportunity to return existed, I would welcome it and be proud to suit up for the Tigers in 2023-24,” the statement reads in part.
This came a day after Williams’ mother, Samantha, affirmed that her son wouldn’t return to school.
“He’s not coming back,” Samantha Williams told the Commercial Appeal. “He played three years. He won’t be back.”
Except he can come back, and apparently wants to come back.
“I have operated under the assumption that I did not have remaining eligibility but have been advised in recent days that regaining a season of competition is a real possibility,” Williams’ statement reads. “My mother is my rock. I owe her everything and will always be grateful towards her. At the time her comments were made, she was not fully apprised of the circumstances surrounding my decision.”
Just off the phone with DeAndre Williams' attorney, Don Jackson, who has confirmed to me that Williams is pursuing reconsideration and/or a waiver to play another season at Memphis.
Williams will need a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible for one more season. The 6-foot-9 forward, however, has a legitimate gripe that could certainly turn the case in his favor.
The 27-year-old has five years of eligibility due to his enrollment at Evansville during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, he’s only played four years in college, three at Memphis, and is still ineligible to play next season as of now.
That’s because he didn’t play in his first year of eligibility due to being academically ineligible. And the NCAA counted that year against him, ruling it a “year-in-residence.”
Sports attorney Don Jackson is handling Williams’ case. Jackson represented Memphis coach Penny Hardaway in Memphis’ NCAA infractions case that was resolved in 2022 via the Independent Accountability Resolutions Process.
Jackson says that he has represented multiple athletes in situations similar to Williams’ and was able to help them earn eligibility relief from the NCAA. He also says that Williams’ initial season of eligibility was taken away from him, and that the NCAA’s initial ruling is wrong.
The biggest problem for Williams’ chances right now is time, according to Jackson.
“If we had three, four, five months, that would be much better,” he said. “[But] we’re going to have to turn this around very quickly. My hope is to be in a position early next week or midweek next week to provide considerable new information to the University of Memphis and to the NCAA staff to try to get determination at that time.”
What Williams’ Return Would Mean for Memphis
Aside from the actual waiver process, Williams’ return would be massive for Memphis. He’s been the heart and soul of the program over the last three seasons, and would be just that for his 4th. He also potentially identifies as Memphis’ leading scorer and rebounder next season.
Williams was one of the best forwards in college basketball last season, averaging 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Tigers. He also shot a career-high 40.3% from three-point range.
He’s also a total pest defensively, and gives a tenacious effort at that end. He averaged 0.9 blocks and 1.5 steals per game in 2022-23.
Needless to say, Williams would fill a variety of holes for the Tigers this season.
All in all, it’s clear that Williams wants to be back. If we’re being honest, he probably should be back. Everyone else enrolled during the pandemic gets five seasons of eligibility, and Williams deserves the same.
Senior Editor for Tiger Blueprint. See more of my work on Bluff City Media, where I’m the Memphis basketball beat writer, the Men in Hoodies podcast on Apple and Spotify and on “Sports with Roman Cleary” live on University of Memphis Radio—The ROAR Fridays from 3-4 p.m. during the fall and spring.
