NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Virginia of last decade

7. Mark Williams – Duke

A five-star recruit and one of the most talented young bigs in the nation, Williams made his way to Duke, making the same choice that a number of five-stars have made in recent years. A 7’0 center from Virginia Beach, he arrived on campus back in 2020 and was an important piece for the Blue Devils across the next two seasons.

As a freshman, Williams carved out a role with the Blue Devils but didn’t put up the most impressive numbers in the world, averaging 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Duke mightily struggled during that season but bounced back in a major way during his sophomore year. Williams averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds a game, starting all 39 games at center. Williams had a 23-point, 19-rebound effort against Louisville in the ACC Tournament and helped lead the Blue Devils to the Final Four to end his college career.

Williams emerged during that sophomore season, winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year while leading the entire nation in true shooting percentage. He was a weapon on both sides of the ball, leading the ACC in interior shooting and blocks while the metrics saw him as one of the nation’s best offensive players. After that fantastic second year, Williams was off to the next level and was drafted in the first round by the Charlotte Hornets.