Mikey Williams to transfer from Memphis after avoiding jail sentence: Report
Embattled college freshman Mikey Williams is reportedly on the move. The former 5-star viral high school basketball sensation, who plead guilty to a gun charge in November, will enter the transfer portal, 247 Sports' Eric Bossi reported Monday.
Williams pleaded guilty to six felony counts of discharging a gun into an occupied vehicle, stemming from an incident at his San Diego-area residence in March. Nobody was injured.
He faced nine felony counts and up to a 30-year prison sentence, but struck a plea deal that will allow him to avoid jail time if he completes gun safety and anger management courses along with 80 hours of community service, according to the Associated Press.
The San Diego area native is still named on the University of Memphis roster, but has not joined the team this season as he's reportedly dealt with his legal battle from his home in southern California.
Williams rose to viral stardom as a young basketball star at San Ysidro High School.
Since he was a high school freshman — the year he dropped 77 points in a game — he's amassed millions of Instagram followers and became the first high school athlete to sign an NIL deal.
Celebrity followed, and he struck friendships with the likes of LeBron James and rapper YG.
He moved to North Carolina for his junior season and returned to San Ysidro as a senior.
Also reportedly joining him in the transfer portal is Memphis freshman JJ Taylor, a former 4-star forward who played with Williams at San Ysidro. Taylor has logged two minutes across three games for the Tigers this season.
Bossi reported Monday the pair "are interested in heading to the same destination if possible."
This is a developing story.
-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports
