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UCF guard Mikey Williams is in the transfer portal as he seeks his third college destination. The former five-star recruit is leaving the Knights after one season in Orlando.
Williams was once one of the faces of high school hoops. He went viral prior to his NCAA career for throwing down high-flying dunks and flashing incredible athleticism.
Williams hails from California. He spent two high school seasons playing in San Diego and another pair in North Carolina. In his freshman year, he set a local scoring record with a 77-point performance at San Ysidro High.
His online fame actually began while he was still in middle school. His highlights started trending on social media as a seventh grader.
Penny Hardaway recruited the guard to the state of Tennessee in 2023. He was rated as a Top 100 player upon committing to Memphis. Unfortunately, legal issues stunted his career before it began.
Mikey Williams was arrested for assault with a weapon, making threats, and firing into a vehicle. He reached a plea deal that allowed him an opportunity to continue playing basketball.
He transferred away from the Tigers due to the off-court trouble and was eventually given a second chance at UCF. With the Knights, he averaged 5.1 points per game in a reserve role. After one season, he’s leaving Central Florida in search of a third school.
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Head coach Johnny Dawkins was initially excited to get his freshman on the floor. “I was happy to see Mikey get out there,” he said in December. “I love his attitude and work ethic. The young man is going to be terrific.”
He’ll be unable to see Williams’ career develop further with his team.
It’s unknown how much interest Williams will receive in the transfer portal. The previous movement from school to school is certainly a red flag for top programs. Still, his talent could lead to offers despite his past transgressions.
The youngster opened up about those issues while speaking on the Pivot Podcast earlier this month. His ultimate goal is still the NBA.
Mikey Williams was once considered a top high school player and sure-fire pro prospect. His path has been largely altered due to his legal run-in.
He played sparingly as a freshman in Orlando, but did show the ability to be an offensive threat in the Big 12 with the Knights. In his final game with UCF, he scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting against TCU. It was one of three double digit performances across his last six appearances.
Williams is hoping to buoy that late production into another opportunity. He’s hoping to shine at his next stop. Time will tell if and where he gets the chance.