The Memphis Tigers have landed their third and fourth commitments of 2023 from five-star combo guard Mikey Williams and four-star small forward J.J. Taylor. Here’s what you need to know:
- Williams is the No. 22 overall player in the 2023 class and Taylor is No. 63 overall prospect per the 247Sports Composite Rating.
- Williams kept his recruitment close to the vest but Kansas, Arizona State, and Arkansas were heavily involved.
- Taylor chose the Tigers over schools including Michigan, Arkansas, LSU, and Kansas.
Backstory
Williams is a social media sensation with high-flying dunks and theatrics, as he has over 3.7 million Instagram followers and nearly 80,000 followers on Twitter.
Taylor announced on Oct. 28 that he would be leaving Donda Academy to join up with Williams for their senior year at San Ysidro (Calif.) High School after Donda Academy shut down in the wake of Kanye West’s antisemitic comments.
Memphis also has commitments from four-star small forward Carl Cherenfant and three-star guard Ryan Forrest. The Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class now ranks No. 8 with the additions of Williams and Taylor.
What’s next?
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway will also look to add Bronny James, as the Tigers are one of the three schools recruiting him the hardest.
Williams signed an endorsement deal with Puma last year. Memphis is a Nike school. It remains unclear whether Williams will wear Pumas or Nikes.
Required reading
(Photo: Justin Ford / USA Today)
