Sacramento State continues to add star power to its college basketball program ahead of the new basketball season with the addition of former high school phenom Mikey Williams.
The Hornets have made headlines over the past month by hiring former NBA point guard Mike Bibby as the team’s head coach, followed by the recent hiring of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal as the general manager.
How Did Mikey Williams Move From Potential Lottery Pick to Sacramento State?
Standing at 6’3″, Williams was rated as a 5-star prospect early in his high school career and was even projected to be a top 5 pick. As a freshman at San Ysidro High School in San Diego, Williams averaged 29.9 points and broke the school’s single-game scoring record with 77 points.
He was named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year but now he finds himself at one of the worst programs in the nation.
The Mikey Williams timeline tweet
• (2020) Ranked as the #2 recruit in the country, considers going to atleast 5
HBCUs & other blue bloods
• (2021) Starts falling in recruiting services
• (2022) Later commits to Memphis to play for Penny Hardaway• (2023) Doesn’t play… pic.twitter.com/78aFxcxviV
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) April 29, 2025
In June 2020, Williams was offered basketball scholarships by several historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) after showing interest in playing for an HBCU on social media. He also received offers from many NCAA Division I programs, including Arizona and Arizona State, before starting his high school career.
He was ranked as the number two recruit in the nation in 2020 before he eventually committed to Memphis in 2022. However, he never played a game for Memphis due to the criminal investigation he faced after he was charged with multiple felonies.
In April 2023, Williams was arrested for allegedly firing a gun at a car full of people at his home. He transferred to UCF following his arrest.
The charges were reduced, and Williams ultimately pleaded guilty to one felony count of making criminal threats with provisions that would allow him to avoid jail time. That charge was reduced to a misdemeanor in August after Williams was sentenced to a year of summary probation.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
He then became eligible to play for the UCF Knights. Williams didn’t see the court much due to injuries, but he averaged 5.1 points in 14 minutes per game for the Knights last season. He still has three years of college eligibility left, and he hopes Sacramento State gives him a fresh start.
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