The all-time great player for the Memphis Tigers has formally declared his retirement due to his wife, which is causing…

The all-time great player for the Memphis Tigers has formally declared his retirement due to his wife, which is causing…

“We are extremely disappointed a waiver for an additional year of eligibility for DeAndre Williams was denied, which came following a request for reconsideration of the initial denial and then an appeal,” Memphis Athletics stated in a statement on Friday.

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According to the Associated Press, Williams was pursuing a sixth year after serving as a year-in-residence at Evansville during his freshman year in 2018–19.

“We felt the evidence about academic misadvisement prior to his initial collegiate enrollment that was uncovered and provided to the NCAA was sufficient to grant this waiver, and we also strongly believed the depth of additional information shared with the NCAA on an ongoing basis would be on DeAndre’s side,” the statement from Memphis athletics continued.

“Unfortunately, the NCAA came to a different conclusion following several months of back and forth. For the past two and a half years, DeAndre has made significant contributions to our men’s basketball program, and he will always be a Memphis Tiger. Nevertheless, we are eager for our men’s basketball team to have a thrilling season on the floor.”

DeAndre Williams triumphs over Cincinnati and celebrates.
On January 22, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio, DeAndre Williams, #12 of the Memphis Tigers, celebrates following his team’s 75-68 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena. (Getty Images/Dylan Buell)

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Williams played his first collegiate basketball season in 2019-20, averaging 15.2 points per game in 18 games with Evansville. After transferring, he spent the next three years averaging more than 27 minutes per game in Memphis.

Following a season in which he averaged 17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, Williams was named to the first team of the AAC.

Williams seemed to be done playing college basketball after the Tigers’ 2023 NCAA Tournament loss to FAU in the opening round. Williams, whose mother informed The Commercial Appeal, was “not coming back.”

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DeAndre Williams standing by for the Tigers
On March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio, DeAndre Williams, the number twelve player for the Memphis Tigers, is huddled up with teammates during the first half of the team’s match against the Florida Atlantic Owls in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena. (Getty Images/Dylan Buell)

Williams announced a day later that he was considering going back to Memphis.

Williams sent a statement to the publication saying, “I would be proud to suit up for the Tigers in 2023–24 if the opportunity to return existed.”