The status of Memphis signee and freshman guard Mikey Williams has been unclear in the three weeks since his preliminary hearing was postponed for a third time.
The San Diego native is facing six felony gun charges after allegedly firing at a moving vehicle carrying five people earlier this year. If convicted, Williams will spend up to 28 years in state prison.
Memphis’ Statement
The University of Memphis aimed to clarify the situation by releasing a statement on the matter earlier this morning.
“While Mikey Williams is enrolled in online classes at the University of Memphis and remains on the roster, he will not 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 Tigers began official practice for the 2023 season yesterday. The team has a pair of exhibitions before the season starts. The first is against Lane College on October 29th. The second takes place against LeMoyne-Owen College on November 2nd. The 2023 campaign officially begins on November 6th against Jackson State in FedEx Forum.
Williams is scheduled to appear in court on October 10th. This date is nearly three weeks before Memphis’ first exhibition contest.
What This Means
With Mikey Williams’ legal status still in limbo, it remains unlikely that the four-star guard will join Memphis for the upcoming season.
The potential loss of a talented prospect like Williams puts more pressure on the guard depth for the Tigers. The prized recruit is arguably the best shot-creator and ball-handler in Memphis’ recruiting class. Without him, UCF transfer Jayhlon Young will see an increased role in 2023 and operate as the backup point guard. Alabama transfer Jahvon Quinerly will see a lot of minutes as the starting lead guard.
While not pure point guards, Memphis has plenty of players who can be ball handlers. FSU transfer Caleb Mills will likely be the starting two guard and can run the offense when asked. St. John’s transfer David Jones and Wichita State transfer Jaykwon Walton are a pair of wings with a solid handle for their size. Freshman Ashton Hardaway also flashed intriguing shot-creation ability during Memphis’ foreign tour.
Memphis is not lacking in ball handlers going into the 2023 campaign. The potential loss of Williams will hurt their depth. However, it won’t be the end of the world for a Tigers team with a highly talented roster.
