Mikey Williams trial date set, Puma ends NIL deal with Memphis basketball signee | Report

Mikey Williams' trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 14, according to multiple reports.

The Memphis basketball signee appeared in court Friday, two days after he failed to appear in-person for his originally scheduled arraignment. Williams, rated a four-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite, is facing nine felony charges stemming from a March 27 shooting outside his California home.

Williams was ordered Friday by a judge to make no more social media posts about his case, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. That order is the result of Deputy District Attorney George Modlin's request to increase Williams' bail (which was denied by Judge Kathleen Lewis) after he deemed Williams made a threatening social media post earlier this month. The post in question, which has been deleted, showed a TV clip of Williams in court with lyrics from a song by rapper Rylo Rodriguez: “Say the judge and DA (expletive) with his head, just stay afloat."

Modlin said, of Williams' Instagram post, “this is more than somebody venting.” He also said witnesses have moved out of state.

Williams' attorney, Troy P. Owens, objected and said Williams deleted the post “because of the negative attention and overreach” and hasn't posted since. In declining to raise bail, Lewis said: “I don’t think it’s a sufficient change of circumstances. I understand the argument. I think it was just a stupid, stupid thing Mr. Williams did.”

In addition, a spokesperson for Puma told the San Diego Union-Tribune its landmark NIL sponsorship deal with Williams has "ended."

A member of Williams' camp told the San Diego Union-Tribune he still hopes to play for Memphis this season. The Tigers' first exhibition game is Sunday, and the regular season begins Nov. 6 against Jackson State at FedExForum.

Williams was arrested in April on five charges of assault with a weapon and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle. Upon his arrest, San Diego County authorities said an argument inside Williams' home escalated when gunshots were fired toward a car as it drove away with six people inside. The car was hit, but no one inside was injured.

On Wednesday, three more felony charges were added based on witness testimony at his preliminary hearing earlier this month indicating Williams threatened to shoot several people prior to the actual shooting. At Williams’ preliminary hearing, Judge Sherry M. Thompson-Taylor said even though no one saw Williams fire a gun, there is probable cause to send the case to trial since witnesses testified they saw him with a gun and heard him threaten to kill them.

Williams pleaded not guilty to the initial charges. If convicted on all charges, Williams could spend up to 30 years in prison.

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway has voiced continued support for Williams since his arrest. Hardaway was asked this week if he thinks standing by Williams could have a negative effect on his program.

MEMPHIS BASKETBALL: Penny Hardaway standing by embattled recruit Mikey Williams

"I don't think it affects the program at all," Hardaway said. "I think this young man is, obviously, going through something. He hasn't been found guilty of anything, so we just have to continue to support him."

Last month, the Memphis athletic department announced Williams would not be permitted to be part of the team as long as his legal issues remained unresolved. In a statement on Sept. 27, the athletic department also said it would "assess and determine his status with the team" once the legal process had run its course. The release also stated Williams is enrolled in online classes and would remain on the team's roster.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mikey Williams: Trial date set for Memphis basketball signee