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2019 NBA Mock Draft: Murray State’s Ja Morant is rising

By Brendon Kleen

CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers is seen before the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers is seen before the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NC – JANUARY 26: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils defends Michael Devoe #0 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – JANUARY 26: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils defends Michael Devoe #0 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Zion Williamson. 1. player. 156. . F. Duke

Put the entire Notre Dame demolition derby onto Williamson’s highlight reel from a season that has been full of fantastic plays.

First, Williamson caught the ball on the perimeter, took a jab dribble to his right, spun left and put the ball in at the rim for an easy layup. Then, he got into the post on the right block, hesitated to his left against the Irish’s best player, John Maloney, and went right past Maloney for another point-blank finish. Teams absolutely have to put a physical, aggressive defender on Williamson to have any chance of making him uncomfortable. If you allow Williamson to go to work against a smaller player, he’s getting past them for a shot at the rim or an open bucket for a teammate.

Next. Meet the 2018 NBA 25-under-25. dark

Perhaps the most terrifying thing Williamson did while dissecting Notre Dame’s zone on Monday was pull up for 3, just his 11th make of the season but by far the prettiest shot he’s made at Duke, a crossover through the legs into a smooth pull-up release that bonked right through the net.

Williamson finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds and four blocks on 10-12 shooting as Duke beat Notre Dame by 22, leaving NBA scouts with all the evidence they needed that Williamson has permanently separated himself from the pack as the surefire No. 1 pick.

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