Duke basketball players who benefit most from Jalen Johnson departure

Duke basketball players who will benefit from Jalen Johnson’s absence

Mark Williams

Mark Williams has been the biggest surprise for the Blue Devils this season.

The former five-star prospect entered Duke and seemed overwhelmed by the physicality of the college game. But he has since slowly improved and now has carved out a spot in the starting lineup.

Williams still has plenty to learn and adjust to throughout ACC play, but with Johnson no longer in the rotation, it serves for a more traditional lineup from Mike Krzyzewski.

This traditional lineup allows Matthew Hurt to play power forward, his natural and most effective position, and a potential rotation at center between Mark Williams and Henry Coleman, rather than the small-ball lineup Duke was running, which was abysmal on defense.

Mark Williams will only continue his upward trajectory as the season progresses.