Who Is Mikaylah Williams? All You Need to Know About the LSU Starlet

When Mikaylah Williams, the then-LSU freshman, buried 42 points against Kent State, it was a clear warning that she’s just as dominant as others. Who else had made such a spectacular start before? None. She’s also the first-ever LSU freshman to set a higher standard that high.

“I ain’t never had to do that before because, you know, in high school, you are the system. So, like, working into the system, playing with other great players, I mean, that was the biggest adjustment for me,” shared Williams. Had she not mentioned it herself, it would have been hard to believe. But even for her, it isn’t just hard work that has brought her to collegiate basketball excellence.

It’s all in her genes

“Basketball had always been in my life.” For Mikaylah, basketball runs deep in her veins, especially since she got it from both her mom and dad,LaTonya and Patrick. While her mom played college ball, her dad was a coach. Whether it was talking to her mother from her “car seat on the sideline” while she played or “following her dad” as he coached, basketball was always present.

Even hitting up an empty gym or playing the part of the “biggest cheerleader for her brother,” there wasn’t a moment without the sport. How could she stay away from joining her family? “As I’ve grown up, I’ve kept on falling in love with this game,” Mikaylah shared with ‘The Players’ Tribune’.

Although her parents have taken up different professions””her mother is a teacher at Bossier High and her father is a supervisor at FedEx””their relationship with the game remains strong, as it goes way back to their college days. Her mom LaTonya, played for Northwestern State and her father, Patrick, played for Bossier Parish Community College.

The basketball skills in her family don’t end with her parents. Just like Mikaylah, her brother Kaleb also played basketball as well as football when he was at Parkway High School. Surrounded by the sport, it only came naturally to the LSU Tiger.

For her, it all started in high school.

Mikaylah received a lot of attention during high school. But it became a big deal when she became a coach’s favorite across various teams. Her concentration on the game while remaining grounded caught everyone’s attention. Of course, her parents’ help was the cherry on top.

Especially her mother, who always offered her valuable advice based on her own experience. According to ‘Bossier Press’, she often told Mikaylah to “remain humble,” as the opportunity she had was quite special and “a lot of people” were eagerly waiting “to be in her shoes.”

She even emphasized that her talent would continue to grow and reach the next level. “Just let them know you’re working with what the Lord gave you… don’t get a big head,” shared her mother. However, it wasn’t only her mother. As Williams mentioned, both her parents have made “a lot of sacrifices,” and she “really appreciates it.”

Thanks to all this support, Williams passed with flying colors.

As a senior, she led Parkway to the Division I state championship, becoming Bossier High’s all-time leading scorer. For her impressive gameplay, she was even named the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year. But basketball wasn’t the only sport she tried her hand at. She also competed in softball and track and field during high school.

But that’s not all. Williams also played for the United States. At the 2022 FIBA U-17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, she averaged 8.1 points and 4.7 rebounds, helping her team bring home a gold medal. As talented as she is, she also competed in the 3×3 FIBA U-18 World Cup for the United States.

With MVP titles from 2021-2023, she also earned gold medals in these tournaments. While still in high school, she had to make a decision, as she already had offers from LSU, Ole Miss, Baylor, Texas A&M, and Duke. The hype around her was so great that she was announced as a five-star recruit and ranked No. 2 in her class by ESPN.

Finally, in June 2022, she committed to play with Louisiana State University over the others. And just like in high school, she began spreading her magic on the collegiate court. Playing for LSU, she averaged 14.5 points per game and 44.4% shooting accuracy from three point range. Her field goal percentage of 47.1% is one of the best in collegiate basketball.

Even her postseason average of 15 points per game in 37 minutes of gameplay is quite impressive. These stats only prove the immense talent this sophomore holds for the future. Whether she can keep up with the expectations over the next three years at LSU remains to be seen.