Mikey Williams, a high school basketball player with a massive social media following, was arrested on Thursday on five felony counts of Assault with a deadly weapon (KTLA, 2021). The 18-year-old San Diego-based high school senior, who is among the nation’s most recognizable prep basketball players with an endorsement deal with Puma, had police storm his home in Jamul after an incident resulting in the arrest (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2021).
Williams previously committed to the University of Memphis as one of the top recruits in the country (CBS Sports, 2021). The basketball player was drafted as a guard/forward and has garnered attention for his flashy dunks and impressive athleticism on the court. The young basketball star has over 3 million followers on Instagram, where he has been vocal about his feelings towards the NCAA, particularly their handling of student-athlete compensation (NBC 7 San Diego, 2021).
Williams’ arrest has raised concerns about the young athlete’s future as many schools and businesses may reconsider their financial support, particularly since the arrest includes a felony gun charge. Williams was arraigned on Friday and released on bail (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2021). His attorney has said that the young player is looking forward to the legal system’s due course and will respect the process while cooperating with the authorities (NBC 7 San Diego, 2021).
It remains to be seen what will happen to Williams’ college basketball career as this marks the second time in less than a year that he has been arrested. Last December, he was detained by police in North Carolina for reportedly resisting an officer and being in possession of marijuana (New York Post, 2021).
For now, Williams is scheduled to appear in court in September for a preliminary hearing (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2021). Many hope that this young star not only learns from his mistakes but can set a positive example for other young athletes in the future.
