Bryce McGowens, Mark Williams discuss first impression of Michael Jordan

The 2022 NBA Draft wrapped up last Thursday night and the fan bases across the league are getting acquainted with their new stars. The Charlotte Hornets tabbed a couple of young, promising prospects as their players of the future. The franchise drafted center Mark Williams out of Duke, who is oozing with a jaw-dropping amount of potential. They also landed Bryce McGowens, a gifted guard from the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Since they landed on the Hornets, their owner happens to be one of the most famous athletes to ever live and one of the greatest basketball players ever to suit up, Michael Jordan. When McGowen and Williams were recently introduced at their introductory press conference, media members took the chance to ask both players their first impressions of Jordan and whether or not they’d gotten to speak with him.

“Um, yeah, I talked to him on the phone yesterday. You know, it was really cool to talk to Michael Jordan,” Williams said. It was pretty cool to talk to him. [He] just gave me a little bit of advice. He’s just happy to have me and just ready to get to work,” the former Duke star said.

“I haven’t yet talked to him but having an opportunity to play for this organization. It means a lot,” McGowens said.

The former Duke center was the 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year

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 Coach K’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.

What NBA Draft analysts are saying about Mark Williams

ESPN’s Mike Schmitz offered his assessment of Williams’ skill set, especially on defense. In fact, he’ll be one of the longest players in the NBA — and Schmitz said there’s reason to believe he’ll have plenty of upside in the association.

“Williams’ sheer reach immediately makes him a game-changer as both a lob-catcher and rim-protector, elements we saw all season in the ACC as he finished a remarkable 76% of his shots at the rim in the half court,” Schmitz wrote. “Williams also ranks No. 3 among [ESPN’s] top 100 in block percentage and fourth in offensive rebound percentage, regularly creating extra possessions with tap-outs thanks to his timing and length.

Bryce McGowens wrapped up his career as one of the most decorated freshmen ever to suit up in Lincoln

McGowens was a former five-star prospect out of Greenville (S.C.) Legacy Early College. He became the Cornhuskers third drafted player in the past four years and the second in a row under head coach Fred Hoiberg.

He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection and a first-team Big Ten All-Freshman team. McGowens also finished second for the conference’s Freshman of the Year award, finishing behind Ohio State’s Malaki Branham. The gifted shooting guard led NU and all Big Ten freshmen with 16.8 points per game while ranking second among the league’s freshmen with 5.1 rebounds. His scoring average ranked third nationally for true freshmen, and his 162 made free throws topped that category.

When all was said and done, McGowens finished in the top-10 of the Nebraska freshmen single-season charts in points, free throws made (first), free throws attempted (195, first), field goals made (160, second), 3-pointers made (40, sixth), and rebounds (161, fourth).

For more on his career with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, check out this article from On3’s Robin Washut.

On3’s Nick Schultz and Robin Washut also contributed to this article.