Zion Williamson, Making Friends And Influencing People

Watching Zion Williamson through the recruiting process was fascinating but we honestly didn’t think Duke would pull it off. We thought it might be Clemson.

But it’s August and Duke is getting ready for a trip to Canada and he’s been working out with his new team and making some strong impressions.

Coach K said he’s fine with him weighing 285 and that he’s “graceful” at that weigh which is amazing.

Teammate Jack White said that “I’ve never seen an athlete like him. He just turned 18, what three or four weeks ago? The maturity he has physically and just how he is as a person handling the spotlight being on him with social media. Pretty much everywhere he goes, people are trying to track him down and get photos. It’s a lot for an 18 year old kid.”

No doubt. And he hasn’t faced the type of adversity that is inevitable when everyone can really play. But Williams seems unfazed by it all: “I’m enjoying myself. It’s never too much for me to stand there and take a picture. If I’ve got to get to class, I mean, I’ve got to get to class. But I’m enjoying myself. Nothing is really bothering me.”

Great attitude.

Who knows how all this will play out, but Williamson, probably without fully realizing it, is setting himself up to be a beloved figure at Duke and beyond.