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Mikey Williams Transfers To UCF After Legal Battle

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Former Memphis prospect Mikey Williams has transferred to UCF after entering the transfer portal earlier this week. “All I need was a chance,” Williams wrote on Instagram while announcing the transfer. The No. 49 player in the 2023 recruiting class, Williams never played a game for Memphis after being charged with nine felonies in March 2023. The ensuing legal battle, in which Williams would plead no contest to a lesser charge of making criminal threats, sidelined the San Ysdiro-raised guard. Williams does still have to fulfill several conditions before he is sentenced in August.

“We can confirm Mikey Williams has chosen to enter the transfer portal. The University process for him to join the men’s basketball program was underway, but Williams elected to explore his options at this time,” Memphis said in a statement earlier this week. It is unclear if Williams will be immediately available for UCF, or if he will have to wait until the 2024/25 season to play. The Knights picked up a huge win this week, knocking off one-loss No. 3 Kansas in a chaotic week of college basketball.

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Mikey Williams Pleads Guilty To Misdemeanor Offense

 
 
 
 
 
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As mentioned, the transfer comes after Williams pled guilty to a lesser charge in his legal battle in November. Prosecutors announced that Williams would have his nine felony charges reduced to a single misdemeanor. However, he must meet a number of conditions by his sentencing date in August 2024. These conditions include the completion of 80 hours of community service and the completion of both gun safety and anger management courses. Furthermore, Williams is prohibited from owning a firearm for 10 years. Prior to his plea deal, Williams was facing up to 28 years in prison if found guilty.

Despite Williams’ highly-touted potential, Memphis has shown that they are able to contend without him. The Tigers are 14-2 to start the season, with their only losses coming to Villanova and Ole Miss. Furthermore, their 14 wins include matchups against four ranked opponents (Arkansas, Texas A&M, Clemson, and Virginia).

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Mikey Williams Pleads Guilty To Misdemeanor Offense

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Highly touted basketball prospect Mikey Williams has pled guilty to a single misdemeanor offense. Prosecutors announced that Williams, who is a freshman at Memphis, will have his nine felony charges reduced to a single misdemeanor. However, he must meet a number of conditions by his sentencing date in August 2024. These conditions include the completion of 80 hours of community service and the completion of both gun safety and anger management courses. Furthermore, Williams is prohibited from owning a firearm for 10 years.

Prior to his plea deal, Williams was facing up to 28 years in prison if found guilty of the nine felonies he had been charged with. The charges stemmed from an incident in April. Williams reportedly discharged a firearm at a vehicle containing six people that was leaving his home in California. No one was injured by police came down on hard on the basketball star. However, the deal means that Williams only pleads guilty to one count of making criminal threats.

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Does Mikey Williams Have A Future At Memphis?

However, the legal victory for Williams does little to change his status within the Memphis basketball program. While Williams attends online classes at the school, he is not permitted to engage in team basketball activities until his legal situation is resolved. As his plea is conditional, his status will remain unresolved until he is sentenced. Barring an unforeseen turn of events, this means that Williams will miss the entirety of the 2023-24 season. Furthermore, Memphis will likely wait until his sentencing hearing in August of next year to make a call about his future with the team.

However, even without Williams on the floor, Memphis has gotten off to a strong start to the season. They are 5-1, including major wins over Michigan and then-No. 20 Arkansas. Despite this, their unbeaten start was ended in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship Game. A late rally by the Tigers was not enough to overcome Villanova. Memphis is next in action on Saturday. However, they have at least one more ranked matchup before the end of the year. On December 10, they take on Texas A&M, currently ranked at No. 14.

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Mikey Williams To Stand Trial For Gun Charges

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Memphis freshman Mikey Williams will face trial on felony gun charges. The decision was made at a hearing earlier this week, with Williams scheduled to be arraigned on October 24. The lone victory for Williams is that Judge Sherry M. Thompson-Taylor declined the prosection’s motion to raise Williams’ bond to $500,000. Williams is currently enrolled in online classes at Memphis but is prohibited from training with the basketball team or accessing the athletic facilities.

Williams is accused of discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle following a disagreement at his home in California. While bullets did hit the car, no one inside was injured. Furthermore, while there are no primary witnesses to Williams firing the gun, Thompson-Taylor ruled that there was probable cause to move forward with the trial. However, she also warned the courtroom that she would not hesitate to clear members of the public out of the room. This came after reports that someone was making hand gestures and facial expressions that could be construed as witness intimidation.

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Memphis Preparing For Season Without Williams

With Williams set to be arraigned, it’s likely that he will miss the start of the college basketball season. Williams did not join the team for their summer trip to the Dominican Republic and missed the first week of official practices. Memphis open their season against Jackson State on November 6 and have two exhibition games in late October. The future for Williams remains unclear at this time. However, he could face up to 28 years in prison if found guilty on all counts. Head coach Penny Hardaway and other team officials have declined to comment about the matter at this time. However, while he is their best recruit, he is not Memphis’ only recruit. Furthermore, the Tigers have a bevy of transfers also joining the program.

Also joining the Tigers this season are several other top-tier recruits. There is Williams’ high-school teammate Javonte Taylor, who is ranked #67 by ESPN. Furthermore, there is Ashton Hardaway, son of Tigers’ coach Penny and ESPN‘s #92 recruit. Last season, Memphis won the AAC tournament but crashed out in the first round of the NCAA tournament against #25 Florida Atlantic. Williams’ case remains a developing story and we’ll have any updates as and when they emerge.

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Mikey Williams Not Practicing With Team Amid Gun Charges

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Memphis freshman Mikey Williams remains away from team practices as he awaits a court hearing on gun charges leveled at him earlier this year. While Williams is enrolled in online classes at the university, he does not have team facilities or is participating in team activities. The university has stated that this will remain the case “until his pending legal process is complete. The process to assess and determine his status with the team will be initiated at that time.”

Williams is the #49-ranked recruit in ESPN‘s Class of 2023 and had millions of followers on social media. However, the 6″2 shooting guard out of San Ysidro, California made headlines earlier this year when he reportedly shot at a vehicle leaving his residence. He now faces five charges of assault with a weapon and one charge of firing into an occupied vehicle. After pleading not guilty in April, his preliminary hearing was postponed three times and is currently scheduled for October 10.

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Memphis Preparing For Season Without Williams

Mikey Williams
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 28: San Ysidros Mikey Williams plays during a high school basketball game against Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Jan. 28, 2023 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Williams did not join the team for their summer trip to the Dominican Republic and missed the first week of official practices. Memphis open their season against Jackson State on November 6 and have two exhibition games in late October. The future for Williams remains unclear at this time. Penny Hardaway and other team officials have declined to comment about the matter at this time. However, while he is their best recruit, he is not Memphis’ only recruit. Furthermore, the Tigers have a bevy of transfers also joining the program.

Also joining the Tigers this season are several other top-tier recruits. There is Williams’ high-school teammate Javonte Taylor, who is ranked #67 by ESPN. Furthermore, there is Ashton Hardaway, son of Tigers’ coach Penny and ESPN‘s #92 recruit. Last season, Memphis won the AAC tournament but crashed out in the first round of the NCAA tournament against #25 Florida Atlantic. Williams’ case remains a developing story and we’ll have any updates as and when they emerge.

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Mikey Williams Booked On Five Counts Of Assault

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Mikey Williams, the Memphis Tigers prized recruit, has landed in hot water. On Thursday, the four-star recruit was booked on five counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Williams resides in California, where each charge could carry a six-month jail sentence. The future Memphis guard had many suitors lining up to sign him for his basketball talents. However, now it seems that Williams’ future on the court will take a backseat to these legal issues.

It’s always tough to see news like this involving a young kid. The San Ysidro basketball star was on the verge of a life-changing moment. As Williams was just mere months from the beginning of what would have undoubtedly have been an exciting college career. However, this doesn’t mean Williams still won’t be attending Memphis. But it will for sure put a wrench in his potential availability for the upcoming season. No comment has been publicly made on the behalf of Williams and his family. As the situation is still ongoing.

According to 24/7 Sports, Williams has been considered on the line of a four to five-star talent. Williams is ranked as the 17th-best recruit in the 2023 class. Also, the highest-rated recruit Memphis signed for the upcoming season. Williams had also received offers from Arizona State, Kansas, Arkansas, and Alabama State. However, the high school guard landed on taking his talents to Memphis with head coach Penny Hardaway. The Memphis basketball program has yet to release a public statement on the situation.

Scouting insider Eric Bossi had this to say on the talents of Mikey Williams, “A strong and compact combo guard, Williams is an offensive minded player who understands how to use his athleticism and burst off of the dribble. He is a good ball handler with wiggle off the dribble who finds and exploits cracks in the defense to get to the rim and finish or draw fouls.” The situation is truly tragic for all involved. There has been no further information released since Williams’ arrest on Thursday. For the latest sports news, keep it right here with HNHH.

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