"Let him cook", "Slightly overrated but overdue as well" - Fans have mixed reactions to UCF's Mikey Williams' career-high scoring night

Controversial UCF Knights guard Mikey Williams had a career-best scoring game on Tuesday, tallying 14 points and three rebounds in the 77-65 loss to the Iowa State Cyclones.

During his postgame news conference, coach Johnny Dawkins lavished praise on Williams for his performance.

"He's earned them. You know me; you get what you earn," Dawkins said. "I've been watching how he's been practicing, and I've been watching him in the games we've been playing recently, and you can see he's starting to come on. It's kind of what we saw with Moustapha (Thiam); it's a process, and it's the same thing with Mikey."

College basketball fans on X had mixed reactions to Williams' performance against Iowa State.

Some fans gave Williams credit after his breakout game in college basketball.

"Let him cook," one tweeted.

"Slightly overrated but overdue as well," another tweeted.

"I mean maybe if he gets more playing time but that’s Ight for now," one tweeted.

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Mikey Williams has put his legal troubles behind him

Mikey Williams became a social media sensation after clips of him playing AAU basketball alongside LeBron James's son Bronny James for the North Coast Blue Chips went viral.

In March 2023, Williams, who had committed to coach Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers, opened fire on a vehicle leaving his compound, leading to his arrest. He was charged with six counts of assault that carried a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Despite his mounting legal problems, which led to him losing multiple endorsement deals, in January 2024, Williams entered the transfer portal from Memphis and committed to the UCF Knights.

In August, he completed the mandated 80 hours of community service, a gun safety course, anger management classes and fulfilled a condition to demonstrate good behavior, paving the way for his college basketball career to finally start in earnest. He got probation and was prohibited from owning a firearm during his sentencing.

Mikey Williams has played 13 games for the UCF Knights this season, averaging 4.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists. He is shooting 36.7% from the floor and 25% from beyond the arc.