Basketball Recruit Mikey Williams Trial for Shooting Charges Set for Dec 14, Loses Puma Sponsorship

Charges against Williams include six counts of assault with a weapon and threatening to cause great bodily injury; his status with the Memphis basketball program remains unclear pending court resolution.

• Mikey Williams, a star Memphis basketball recruit, stands accused of nine felony charges stemming from a March shooting incident. He faces six counts of assault with a weapon, one count of firing into an occupied vehicle, and two counts of making threats that could result in great bodily injury or death.
• Though no one was injured in the shooting, Williams could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted, based on testimony from witnesses who claimed to have seen him with a gun and heard him make threats.
• Despite attempts from the prosecution to increase his bail to $500,000 due to a perceived threatening Instagram post by Williams, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Kathleen M. Lewis rejected the request, citing insufficient change of circumstances. His bail remains at $50,000 and trial is set for December 14.
• While maintaining his innocence, Williams engaged in controversial social media activity, posting a since-deleted Instagram post depicting a clip from his court appearance accompanied by the lyrics from a song that can be perceived as defiant towards the legal system. The court has since ordered him to refrain from making further posts about the case.
• Williams has lost his sponsorship deal with Puma amid the ongoing legal issues. The shoe and athletic apparel maker ended their relationship earlier this year. He was one of the name, image, and likeness era's earliest stars and had negotiated a multiyear deal with Puma for an undisclosed amount in 2021.

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