MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — When Patrick McCarthy became the head coach at Hunterville's Lake Norman Christian in January, he had heard plenty about Mikey Williams, the 16-year-old star of the team.
McCarthy had heard how the teenage prodigy had 2.7 million Instagram followers, including pro basketball stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant; about how he was friends with — and had worked with — international rapper/actor Drake; and about how Williams may have had an ego to match his national ranking in the class of 2023: No. 2.
Lake Norman Christian has at least nine college recruits on the roster, but the center of attention is Williams. Check social media before the games and the promotional posts always feature an image of the 16-year old juxtaposed with one of the best players from the other team.
"Mikey Williams has a game very similar to Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz," said Rick Lewis, national recruiting coordinator for Phenom Hoops. "He's strong, explosive and has elite-level athleticism. He is underrated as a passer. He makes excellent reads and makes timely passes to open teammates."
Growing up in San Diego in the 1970s and '80s, Mahlon Williams, became a legendary high school hooper.
As a junior at Sweetwater High School, the 6-3 Mahlon averaged 23 points per game, tied for the county lead. The first two games of his senior year, he was averaging 30, but he missed the next 13 games for failing to maintain a 2.0 grade-point average. He returned, after his suspension, and led the team to the playoffs.
Mahlon Williams and Pat McCain are cousins who grew up together in San Diego. They're also best friends.
In 2015, McCain's father died and he returned home to Salisbury, N.C., to check on his mother. He worked in the sports uniform business and while he was coming to the Charlotte-area often during that time, he noticed the burgeoning youth sports market and sold his cousin on the level of competition in the area.
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Mikey's uncle and father say no one in the family has gotten paid by social media companies or by companies that Mikey has worked with. Last fall, Williams modeled for a new clothing line launched by rapper Drake and Niko, a popular Japanese designer.
"Where's the money at," Mahlon Williams said with a laugh. "When people say that, they're saying, 'If I'm in that position, that's what I would be doing.' People don't understand it. A lot of these companies, the reality of it is they know these kids can't get paid because they will mess up their NCAA eligibility. That's when they want kids to promote stuff. As soon as it's time to get paid, they don't want them to promote anymore.
