Mikey Williams: Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway remains in 5-star recruit's corner

The Mikey Williams waiting game continues for everyone – including Penny Hardaway.

The Memphis basketball coach signed the 5-star combo guard in November 2022. But Williams was arrested in April on six felony gun charges stemming from a shooting outside his California home in March.

Williams, who pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance, is due back for his preliminary hearing on June 29. Hardaway said Monday there won’t be any updates until then.

“Obviously, every coach has an opportunity to detach from a situation if they want to, (but) I’m not that type,” Hardaway said before his round at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis. “We have to let everything play itself out first and not overreact. I’m not calling him guilty before he’s innocent. A lot of people do that. But, for me, we’re just staying the course until we figure this whole entire thing out.”

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Hardaway added he has been in regular contact with Williams throughout the process.

“(I’ve been telling him) ‘Keep working. Keep grinding on your game,’ “ Hardaway said. “ ‘ Leave the legal side to your lawyer and continue to be a kid.’ “

Memphis welcomed the majority of its 2023-24 roster last week. The only Tigers yet to report are Williams, Teafale Lenard Jr., Jayhlon Young and St. John's grad transfer forward David Jones (who committed Monday morning). Lenard and Young, Hardaway confirmed Monday, are clearing up some academic requirements and are expected on campus in July.

The Tigers, Hardaway said, have two scholarships available. He also confirmed all-conference forward DeAndre Williams is appealing to the NCAA in hopes of playing another season at Memphis. Hardaway also said center Malcolm Dandridge, who entered the transfer portal in May, could return to the team.

Hardaway admits having to keep scholarships open in the event Williams and Dandridge return is tricky.

“(But) it’s DeAndre. It’s family, so it’s worth it,” he said. “If it doesn’t (work out) for him to have another year of eligibility, you might lose out on other guys. But it’s worth it for him.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.