MEMPHIS, Tenn — Mikey Williams is now enrolled at the University of Memphis and is on the basketball roster, but he will have to wait to join the team for practices and activities or at the facilities.
Memphis Tigers Athletics said Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, that while Williams is enrolled in online classes, he won't have access to team-related functions until his legal case in California is complete. Williams, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2023, had his preliminary hearing for gun charges postponed for the third time in early September. His new court date is set for October 10, according to the San-Diego Union Tribune.
The Tigers said once that process in California is complete, "the process to assess and determine his status with the team will be initiated at that time."
Williams original hearing was scheduled for June 29. It was then moved to July 12 before getting postponed again for Tuesday, September 5 and now October 10. Troy P. Owens, Williams attorney, requested a continuance in order to review new evidence, according to the San-Diego Union Tribune.
Williams is committed to play basketball for the Tigers, but his future in Memphis is in doubt with the gun charges pending. Head Coach Penny Hardaway has previously told media that he will wait out the legal process before making decisions about Williams' future with the Tigers.
"I'm not calling him guilty before he's innocent and a lot of people do that. But for me, we're just staying the course until we figure this entire thing out," Hardaway said in June.
Williams did not travel with the Tigers to Dominican Republic for their summer preseason play.
Memphis' first preseason game is October 29 against Lane College. Their first official game is Nov. 6 against Jackson State.
Williams is facing six felony gun charges for an incident at his home in Jamul, California in March. There are five counts of assault with a firearm and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle. Authorities said Williams shot at and struck a car leaving his home, but none of the occupants of the car were harmed.