|
Welcome to this week’s Tigers Basketball Insider. Below you’ll find the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s Parth Upadhyaya, John Martin, Tim Buckley and Geoff Calkins.
All I could do was laugh when I first heard the idea.
On a phone call in mid-May, someone mentioned to me that there was a real possibility DeAndre Williams would try to regain a year of collegiate eligibility to return to Memphis for a fourth season.
“Wait. … What?” I remember saying with a chuckle.
For weeks, those in Williams’ camp were unwilling to speak on the matter. Then, sure enough, Williams confirmed on May 31 through his lawyer that he was indeed pursuing an avenue to return to the Tigers for the 2023-24 season.
Williams’ case is clear: The 6-foot-9 All-AAC forward is seeking reconsideration by the NCAA regarding his eligibility status, claiming he was wrongfully stripped of a season due to misadvisement during his high school and prep school years. He and his lawyer, Don Jackson, allege that it was poor guidance that pushed Williams’ high school graduation back from 2016 to 2017 and his college enrollment back to 2018.
But what are the chances the NCAA sees it the same way and ultimately grants Williams an additional season?
Well, as funny as I (and probably many others) initially felt the thought of a Williams return was, I now believe there’s a decent probability the 26-year-old is back in a Tigers uniform next season.
Jackson has handled — and won — numerous cases against the NCAA before. This is the same man who represented Penny Hardaway in Memphis’ Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) case and allowed the Tigers coach to practically get off scot-free last September. And now, he’s saying he’s uncovered enough evidence in Williams’ favor to no longer rush the process of submitting documentation to the University of Memphis and NCAA.
“I have to have faith that when full evidence is produced and all the information is produced and considered that the administrative process will work,” Jackson told me last week. “We’re going to get complete information, and I’m optimistic that the administrative process will work in this case.”
In 2018, Jackson dealt with a case nearly identical to Williams’. The longtime sports attorney represented a collegiate soccer player (one he declined to name) who’d transferred from a school in England to a Division II program in Florida under the advice of his future coach, but was stripped of a season of eligibility due to delayed enrollment. The player eventually transferred to Manhattan College, where Jackson helped him gather materials in order to submit a waiver request to the NCAA. Eventually, the NCAA granted the player his lost eligibility, citing “misadvisement” as a key reason in its rationale.
“I’m confident in NCAA case precedent,” Jackson said.
During my first couple conversations with Jackson after Williams’ public statement in late May, the attorney expressed the need to quickly send off a submission of evidence to the NCAA so that Williams would possibly have an answer by the start of NBA Summer League in July. The fact that Jackson no longer appears to be in such a hurry can only be a good sign.
“Recommendations were made to go to schools that were not fully approved schools by the NCAA eligibility center — by the high school review team that the NCAA has,” Jackson said. “And a student-athlete that’s caught in the middle of all that should not be penalized.”
Jackson has gone as far as to say he believes there’s a solid chance Williams will be cleared by the NCAA by the time Memphis goes on its foreign tour to the Dominican Republic from Aug. 1-7.
With the amount of confidence Jackson has in Williams’ case, it’s hard not to be at least cautiously optimistic that Williams will be in a Tigers jersey this upcoming season.
Many felt the NCAA would drop the hammer on Memphis in its years-long infractions case. Many also felt hopes were slim for current Tennessee Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton to suit up for two more seasons for LSU, or current Miami Heat center Omer Yurtseven to play a single game for North Carolina State.
Jackson saved the day in all three of those cases.
If he feels good about Williams’ situation, I — at least for now — do, too.
More from your Insider:
More than 100 Memphis basketball supporters will peek inside Penny Hardaway’s house Saturday, June 10, as the coach hunts for stronger backing from program boosters.
Big 12 commissioner speaks to ESPN about a reported trip to Memphis by conference officials.
“It’s not news that the Tigers need to find their way into the Big 12. But I think it’s fair to say that Memphis has never needed that spot more than it does at this very moment.”
Adam Walker is headed back to his alma mater after spending more than a decade with the Memphis Tigers.
“We’ve got documented proof — written proof — of misadvisement in the form of emails, text messages. I think it’s very clear,” said DeAndre Williams’ lawyer, Don Jackson.
..... |
