Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway made it clear Wednesday how he feels about Mikey Williams' decision to transfer.

After the ninth straight win for the No. 13 Tigers (14-2, 3-0 AAC) − a 107-101 overtime victory against UTSA at FedExForum − Hardaway offered support for Williams' decision.

"He has the right to do what he needs to do for himself, and I wish him well," said Hardaway.

Williams and Memphis freshman JJ Taylor announced intentions to enter the transfer portal Monday. Williams never played, practiced or formally joined the Tigers after signing with the program in November 2022. He was arrested in April and charged with multiple felonies stemming from a shooting outside his California mansion in March.

Williams reached a plea agreement eight months after the arrest. He pled guilty to one felony count of making criminal threats and the other eight felony counts were dropped.

Earlier Wednesday, Williams' attorney, Troy P. Owens Jr., released a letter obtained by The Commercial Appeal, indicating his client was under the impression that agreeing to a plea deal would clear the way for him to join the Tigers for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Owens blames Memphis for not making Williams' situation a "priority."

“Weeks went by and Mr. Williams stopped receiving responses from the University,” Owens said in the statement. “It became clear to Mr. Williams that having him play this season was not a priority for the University. What was even more frustrating was that Mr. Williams learned that the committee [review] was also going to decide whether, or not, he would be allowed to play in the 2024-2025 season even after being sentenced to a misdemeanor.

“Remaining on the roster at the University of Memphis meant that, had the committee ruled that Mr. Williams could NOT play in the 2024-2025 season, he faced the possibility of missing two years of basketball,” Owens' statement said, according to On3. “This was not something that Mr. Williams was willing to risk.”

The reaction to Williams' decision to seek other opportunities seemed to not sit well with some Memphis fans, who chided the 19-year-old guard on social media for bailing when Hardaway stood by him throughout his legal battle.

MIKEY WILLIAMS: Lawyer explains why Mikey Williams decided to leave Memphis basketball, enter transfer portal

Hardaway does not view it that way.

"I'd do it again, to be very honest with you," he said. "That’s what I’m in this business for – to stick my neck out on the line for kids and young men, and hope that they appreciate it.

"I think those young men (Williams and Taylor) both have bright futures, and they have every right to do what they want. I really wanted to coach both, I really did. Mikey and I still are in touch. But he has a right to do what he needs to do for himself, and I wish him well. I’m still gonna stay in touch with him, for sure."

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: Penny Hardaway on standing by Mikey Williams: 'I'd do it again'