Why DeAndre Williams’ Age Doesn’t Matter

As the off-season begins to come to a close, one last question is in the air for Memphis.

Will the NCAA grant DeAndre Williams an additional year of eligibility?

Williams hired a high profile attorney, Don Jackson, to assist him in this fight. Meanwhile, national college basketball reporters and analysts don’t seem keen to the idea. Age being the number one concern as Williams will turn 27 this October. In this article, I’ll explain why age is an irrelevant argument in Williams’ situation.

Williams Has Played Just 4 Seasons

While some may perceive Williams’ age and assume he has spent a prolonged time in college, that assumption is not entirely accurate.

Williams joined Evansville in 2018-19, but the NCAA deemed him ineligible due to his unconventional online schooling. Next year, he would complete his first season playing at Evansville and eventually transfer to Memphis in the 2020 off-season.

Fast forward to the present, Williams has spent the last three years at Memphis, playing a total of four seasons. Considering the circumstances where players have been granted an additional year of eligibility due to COVID, why shouldn’t Williams?

National Media

From ESPN commentators to analysts on Twitter, Williams has received negative comments about his age.

While some may not be fully informed on the situation, a lot of the comments are unfair. Stetson Bennett, 25, recently led Georgia to back-to-back national championships without receiving nearly the amount of flake as Williams.

It is worth noting that Williams has already graduated from the University of Memphis and is eligible to pursue a Master’s degree. In contrast, Bennett did not graduate during his five years at Georgia.

Overall: NCAA’s Decision

Ultimately, while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the decision regarding Williams’ eligibility to play for Memphis next season lies in the hands of the NCAA. In terms of eligibility for an extra year, the 6-foot-9 forward is not fundamentally different from other players seeking the same opportunity.