Amanda Knapp
Mark Oluwafemi Williams is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Williams was born to Nigerian parents, Margaret and Dr. Alex Williams, on December 16, 2001. He was selected by the Hornets in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft with the 15th overall pick. Williams was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year as well as Third Team All-ACC as a sophomore. He was also named to the ACC All-Tournament Second Team after averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in Duke's victories over Boston College and Louisville.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mark Oluwafemi Williams |
| Date of Birth | December 16, 2001 |
| Parents | Margaret and Dr. Alex Williams |
| Siblings | Victoria and Elizabeth |
| High School | Norfolk Academy |
| College | Duke University |
| Position | Center |
| Draft | 2022 NBA Draft, 15th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets |
| Awards/Honours | ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Third Team All-ACC, All-ACC Tournament Second Team, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award preseason watch list |
| Statistics | 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game, 110 blocked shots (sophomore year) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Mark Williams' career at Duke
Mark Oluwafemi Williams, born on December 16, 2001, is an American basketball player who played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before being drafted to the NBA. Williams, who stands at 7-0 and weighs 243 lbs, is the son of Nigerian parents, Margaret and Dr. Alex Williams, and has two older sisters, Victoria and Elizabeth.
Williams began his high school basketball career at Norfolk Academy, where he played for three years before transferring to IMG Academy for his senior season. He was considered a four or five-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for Duke University in 2019, choosing the Blue Devils over other top schools.
During his freshman year at Duke in the 2020-21 season, Williams established himself as a strong front court presence, averaging 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocked shots per game. He recorded a season-high 18 points and 11 rebounds against Syracuse and had a standout performance in the ACC Tournament, recording 23 points and 19 rebounds against Louisville. This set a record for the most rebounds by a freshman in an ACC Tournament game and earned him All-ACC Tournament Second Team honors.
In his sophomore season (2021-22), Williams continued to excel, improving his averages to 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. He had a career-high 28 points against Syracuse and led the ACC in blocked shots per game. Williams was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Third Team All-ACC. Following his successful sophomore campaign, Williams declared for the 2022 NBA draft, where he was selected with the 15th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets, beginning his professional career.
The Purpose of Face Masks in Basketball Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Williams' ranking in the 2022 NBA draft
Mark Oluwafemi Williams, born on December 16, 2001, is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft with the 15th overall pick.
Williams is an efficient offensive player, averaging 1.56 points per shot around the rim in the half-court (98th percentile). He led the nation in total dunks and displayed a huge catch radius for lobs. He also improved as a free-throw shooter, making him a more well-rounded offensive threat.
On the defensive end, Williams is a skilled shot-blocker and rim protector. He averaged 11.2 points, 7.4 to 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks in his sophomore season at Duke, earning him ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He is also a decent one-on-one defender, although he has room to improve in terms of strength and schematic versatility at the NBA level.
Overall, Williams' combination of size, mobility, offensive efficiency, and defensive skills likely contributed to his ranking in the 2022 NBA draft. His performance at Duke and his potential for further growth at the NBA level made him a highly sought-after prospect.
The Standard Basketball Size in the NBA
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Williams' performance in the 2021-22 season
Mark Oluwafemi Williams, born on December 16, 2001, is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
In the 2021-22 season, Williams started all 39 games, averaging 11.2 points on ~.721 shooting (191-of-265) with 7.4 rebounds and 2.82 blocks. He was named to the preseason watch lists for the Wooden Award and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. He was also named to the ACC All-Tournament Second Team after averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in Duke's victories over Boston College and Louisville.
Williams played in 23 games and made 15 starts, including a start in each of the final 11 games. He averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocked shots, while shooting ~.664 (71-of-107) from the field for the season. He emerged as a front court threat over the final 14 games, leading the team in rebounds (6.1), field goal percentage (.684), and blocked shots (28), while ranking fifth in scoring (10.8) in that stretch.
Williams had several notable performances throughout the season. In the season opener versus #10 Kentucky, he hauled in six rebounds, five points, and three blocked shots. He posted his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds against Lafayette (11/19). He helped Duke beat #1 Gonzaga (11/26) with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting, nine rebounds, and six blocked shots. On January 5, 2022, Williams scored 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 69–57 win against Georgia Tech. On February 26, 2022, he scored a career-high 28 points in a 97–72 win over Syracuse.
Williams had a standout sophomore season, blocking 110 shots, the fourth-most in a single season in Duke history, and his 142 career blocks ranked seventh all-time at Duke. His shooting percentage of .721 was the second-best in Duke history, and he was the only player in the country to shoot 700+ from both the floor and the free-throw line. Following his impressive 2021-22 season, Williams was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Third Team All-ACC. He then declared for the 2022 NBA draft, where he was selected 15th overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
Effective Basketball Practice: Pennies for Drills and Scrimmages
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Williams' ranking in Duke history
Mark Oluwafemi Williams, born on December 16, 2001, is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
Williams also boasted a shooting percentage of .721, which was the second-best in Duke history. He was the only player in the country with a shooting percentage of over 700 from both the floor and the free-throw line. In addition, Williams was named to the ACC All-Tournament Second Team, averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in victories over Boston College and Louisville.
Williams' performance in the 2021 ACC Tournament also stands out. His 19 rebounds against Louisville set a record for the most by a freshman in the ACC Tournament, surpassing former Virginia center Ralph Sampson's 18 rebounds in the 1980 ACC Tournament. This performance earned him All-ACC Tournament second-team honors.
Williams' sister, Elizabeth, also played college basketball at Duke from 2011 to 2015 and was selected fourth overall in the 2015 WNBA draft.
Notre Dame Basketball: Champions or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Williams' performance in high school
Mark Oluwafemi Williams, born on December 16, 2001, is an American basketball player who played for the Duke Blue Devils before being drafted to the NBA. Williams started his high school basketball career at Norfolk Academy, where he played for three years before transferring to IMG Academy for his senior season. As a junior at Norfolk, he averaged 19.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game, helping the Bulldogs reach the VISAA state tournament. During the 2019 Nike EYBL, he averaged 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, shooting 63.8% from the floor.
In the summer of 2018, Williams was invited to the NBA Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Virginia. He passed the 1,000-point threshold in February 2019 and was selected to the USA Today All-USA Virginia Boys Basketball Second Team. Williams also participated in the 2019 Nike EYBL circuit, playing for Team Boo Williams, where he continued his impressive performances, averaging 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 64% from the field.
Williams improved his numbers at the Nike Peach Jam, averaging 23.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game with a shooting percentage of 76%. His high school performances caught the attention of several top college basketball programs, and he ultimately chose to play for the Duke Blue Devils over other prestigious programs like UCLA and Michigan.
Williams' older sister, Elizabeth, also played college basketball at Duke from 2011 to 2015 before being selected fourth overall in the 2015 WNBA draft. She currently plays for the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.
Geometry's Role in Basketball: Angles, Distances, and Strategies
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Mark Oluwafemi Williams is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
Mark Williams was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year as well as Third Team All-ACC as a sophomore. He was also the only player in the country to shoot 700+ from both the floor and free-throw line. He was selected by the Hornets in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft with the 15th overall pick.
Mark Williams averaged 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game as a sophomore. He had a shooting percentage of .721, the second best in Duke history. He also blocked 110 shots as a sophomore, the fourth-most in a single season at Duke.
