DeAndre Williams to seek waiver, 'would welcome' return to Memphis basketball

Jason Munz
Memphis Commercial Appeal

DeAndre Williams' Memphis basketball career may not be over after all.

Williams is exploring the possibility of a return to the Tigers, the all-conference power forward said in a prepared statement obtained Wednesday by The Commercial Appeal.

"If the opportunity to return existed, I would welcome it and be proud to suit up for the Tigers in 2023-24," the statement reads in part.

Williams' statement comes a day after his mother, Samantha Williams, told The Commercial Appeal that her son would not be returning to Memphis for another season.

"He's not coming back," Samantha Williams wrote. "He played three years. He won't be back."

In 2020, the NCAA gave all winter sports athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning basketball players enrolled then can play up to five seasons. Williams has only played four seasons of college basketball: one at Evansville and three at Memphis. Williams enrolled at Evansville in 2018, but he was ineligible to play for academic reasons. That season was classified as a "year-in-residence," and it counted against his five-season clock.

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Williams is eligible to apply for reconsideration of the NCAA's decision − and, subsequently, a waiver − regarding his "year-in-residence" season if he chooses. He said Wednesday he is "evaluating potential grounds for reconsideration" and that no firm decision has been made.

"I have operated under the assumption that I did not have remaining eligibility but have been advised in recent days that regaining a season of competition is a real possibility," Williams' statement reads. "My mother is the rock of my life. I owe her everything and will always be loyal and grateful to her. At the time that her comments were made, she was not fully apprised of the circumstances surrounding my decision."

Williams, who turns 27 in October, is consulting with sports attorney Don Jackson on the matter, he said. Jackson represented Memphis coach Penny Hardaway in the NCAA infractions case that was resolved in 2022 via the Independent Accountability Resolutions Process.

Jackson told The Commercial Appeal on Wednesday that he has represented multiple collegiate athletes who have successfully applied for eligibility relief from the NCAA. He contends Williams' initial season of competition at Evansville was taken away from him and that the NCAA's initial decision is wrong.

“If new information is provided, that had it been provided at the outset (it) would’ve impacted the (NCAA’s) decision, the case can be reopened based upon a reconsideration,” Jackson said. “Even if that doesn’t happen, if there are mitigating factors, for example, if (Williams) got false or bad advice, that would be justification for a waiver.

“And, frankly, there are issues here that point in that direction.”

The primary obstacle now, though, is time, according to Jackson. And that obstacle is substantial, he said.

“If we had three, four, five months, that would be much better,” Jackson said. “(But) we’re going to have to turn this around very quickly. My hope is to be in a position early next week or midweek next week to provide considerable new information to the University of Memphis and to the NCAA staff to try to get determination at that time.”

Williams helped lead Memphis to a 26-9 record in 2022-23, an AAC tournament championship and a second-straight NCAA tournament berth. He averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds a game on his way to all-AAC First Team honors and a spot on the AAC all-tournament team.

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