After a two-year stint with the Duke Blue Devils, Mark Williams is officially a member of the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets drafted him 15th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Williams is undoubtedly a huge acquisition for the Hornets team. At 7'2, 242 lbs, he is the third-ranked center in the 2022 NBA Draft class and ranked 17th overall.
Sources: Charlotte will pick Mark Williams at No. 15. https://t.co/wvUIg8tdyt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2022
After an impressive freshman year, Williams earned his spot as Duke's starting center. He started all of the 39 games he played this year, averaging 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks a game.
Williams was a huge reason for the Blue Devils' success throughout the season and into the postseason. Unfortunately, Duke fell just short of the championship game, losing to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament.
Williams isn't the only rising star headed from Duke to the NBA. He is one of five Blue Devils who declared for the 2022 NBA Draft. Only two of his teammates ranked above him: freshman power forward Paolo Banchero, who was drafted first overall, and freshman small forward AJ Griffin.
So, what can Hornets fans expect from Williams? The short answer — a lot.
He has a rare combination of timing, size, and accuracy, which allow him to perform both offensively and defensively. According to CBS Sports, he went 72.3% from the field last season, ranking him fifth-best among NCAA players. He'll be a great fit alongside LaMelo Ball, who will be eager to add a new big man to the mix offensively. Expect some lobs from Ball to Williams in 2022-23 as the big man makes his presence felt on the interior.
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