Dick Vitale believes Mark Williams will be special within three years

The Charlotte Hornets drafted former Duke Blue Devils standout Mark Williams with the 15th selection in the 2022 NBA Draft. ESPN color analyst Dick Vitale is a huge fan of the selection and believes the pick will work in Charlotte’s favor in the coming years.

“I loved the Charlotte Hornets picking up Mark Williams from Duke,” Vitale wrote. “The 7-2 defensive wizard is a terrific shot-blocker and rim protector. Michael Jordan’s club took a player from his beloved Tar Heels’ biggest rival, but I believe Williams will be special within three years.”

Williams, the 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, was the anchor of the Blue Devils defense as they made a run to the Final Four. He averaged 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game for Duke, which finished 32-7 overall and 16-4 in ACC play in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season as head coach.

Out of high school, Williams was a four-star recruit and the No. 31 player in the nation from the class of 2020, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies – so the potential for a breakout NBA career was always on the table.

Williams was introduced to the Charlotte media in a press conference alongside new teammate and fellow draftee Bryce McGowens and Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak, saying he’s excited to join the franchise after a promising pre-draft workout prior to his selection.

“It’s surreal. Obviously I worked out here and had a great workout,” Williams said. “To come back here and have an opportunity to be a part of this organization is great. I’m really excited for it. I just can’t wait.”

It isn’t just his numbers on the court that make him a valuable asset to the Hornets, but rather that production – combined with the length of a 7’7 wingspan and a 9’9 standing reach – solidified Williams as a no-doubt first-rounder and ultimately fell right outside the lottery.

While we wait for Williams’ NBA career to take off, the prospect of having him on the court alongside LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington and other Charlotte standouts has Hornets fans excited for the organization’s next steps to becoming a perennial playoff team.