The No. 29 overall recruit in the 2020 class is the latest to join Coach K and the Duke Blue Devils. Mark Williams, a 7’0″ – 225lb center chose Duke over Michigan and UCLA. Williams is the third low post player that the Blue Devils have landed in their 2020 class. That class currently sits at the top of 247Sports team rankings featuring, Jalen Johnson (6th overall recruit), Jeremy Roach (3rd overall point guard), and DJ Steward (26th overall), Jaemyn Brakefield (6th ranked power forward), and Henry Coleman (Top-40 overall). The Blue Devils’ class leaves many to wonder how the roster will shake out and fit together, but this is an underrated class for being the number one class in the nation. There isn’t a lot of hype around Coach K’s squad for 2020, but they’ll be just fine.
Williams is the 5th ranked center in the 2020 class and sports a fairly thin frame. With a 7’4″ wingspan, and possibly still growing, he looks a bit like Mo Bamba even though he is not quite as long as Bamba. His game revolves around using his size and length to get baskets down low on post-up moves, easy dunks, alley-oops, and putbacks. He knows how to pass the ball out of the post, can use both hands around the basket and has a developing shot that will be valuable later on in his career. Defensively, the slender framed big man’s defensive prowess relies on his long frame as well. Williams shows that he has patience on the defensive end that lets him come away with blocks in the post, on the break, and just about anywhere on the court.
Duke landed an exciting player in Mark Williams. His size is going to take him far, and he definitely has more than just potential. Williams is only going to get better as he matures, starts to fit into his body more easily, and hits the weight room in college. At Nike Peach Jam this summer, Williams averaged 15.4 points and 10.2 rebounds along with two blocks a game to earn a Final Four appearance.
