Mark Williams is the first of Duke’s multiple NBA prospects to say he’s leaving to draft. The 7-foot-1, 242-pound sophomore announced his decision in a social media video Monday night.
“Playing in the NBA has always been a dream of mine, as has this [attending] Duke was when I was growing up,” Williams said. “Duke prepared me to take this next step and I’m excited to announce that I will be drafted in the 2022 NBA draft.”
Drafted #18 by ESPN, Williams was an elite rim guard and finalist for National Defensive Player of the Year last season. A Virginia Beach, Virginia native, he started in all 39 games, averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds, and ranked 12th nationally at 2.82 blocks per game. He also shot 70.4% through two college seasons and improved significantly at the foul line (from 53.7% as a freshman to 72.7% as a sophomore).
Much of William’s offensive performance came from putbacks, dunks, and alley-oop passes while the rest of his offensive game was developing, although he has also shown growth from back to basket.
2 relatives
Williams joined star rookie Paolo Banchero to provide Duke with a strong front line that helped the Blue Devils match now-retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski’s record 13th Final Four while also earning the program’s first straight title to win in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season since 2006.
“He is gifted at both ends of the parquet and strives to get even better every day,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “The NBA team that Mark is designing is obviously getting a talented player, but an equally impressive young man off the field who will represent their organization with class.”
He finished his Duke career with eight points and four rebounds while being limited to 17 minutes by foul problems in the loss to rivals North Carolina in the national semifinals.
Several Duke players, including star freshmen Banchero and AJ Griffin, are also considered likely for the NBA.