Duke basketball confirms major piece for 2021-22 roster

The Duke basketball program confirmed a major piece for its 2021-22 roster. 

After days of speculation and trying to decipher the tweets of Duke basketball center Mark Williams, the entire Blue Devil fan base exhaled on Thursday afternoon.

Williams announced via social media that he would be returning to Durham for his sophomore season after his strong end to his freshman campaign.

https://twitter.com/MarkWi1liams/status/1385342224422998018?s=20

Many thought due to his expanded role over the final month of the season that the 7-footer could find his way into the 2021 NBA Draft, but clearly, he needs to show more consistency and strength throughout the course of a full season.

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Mark Williams played in 23 games for the Blue Devils, starting 15, and averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 66.4-percent from the field.

The best game of the year for the freshman came in what would be his last game of the season as Williams posted 23 points and 19 rebounds in a victory during the ACC Tournament against the Louisville Cardinals.

Mark Williams was not listed in any Top-100 2021 NBA Draft rankings or in any mock drafts, but the Virginia Beach, Virginia native has slipped into the first round of ESPN’s 2022 NBA Mock Draft.

Duke basketball center adds to formidable frontcourt

Duke already had a formidable frontcourt without the return of Mark Williams, but now the Blue Devils boast one of the best forward tandems in the country.

Williams will presumably join freshman phenom Paolo Banchero in the starting lineup next season as Duke also adds forward Adrian Griffin Jr. while returning sophomore forward Wendell Moore.

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The Blue Devils have seen the departure of Patrick Tape, Matthew Hurt, Jaemyn Brakefield, and Henry Coleman to either the transfer portal or the 2021 NBA Draft.

Duke is looking to respond after missing the NCAA Tournament in 2021 for the first time since the 1994-95 season.