He drew a crowd at Spartanburg Day when he helped the Griffins win three consecutive SCISA 3A state championships. His brand went national when he arrived on the Duke campus and he became the face not only of Blue Devil basketball but college basketball in general. He racked up Player of the Year awards in his one and only season in Durham.
Now, the next chapter of his meteoric rise will begin at the NBA Draft when he walks across the stage as the first overall pick. What seemed like a foregone choice by the New York Knicks was turned upside down when the New Orleans Pelicans won the draft lottery to earn the right to pick first in the draft.
After being the face of his last two teams in Spartanburg and Durham, respectively, Williamson says he is ready to become the face of the Pelican franchise.
"Obviously my mindset, yeah, I am ready to be the face (of the franchise)", he said.
"I think everybody has that mindset. I think if somebody doesn't have that mindset, I don't think they're playing the right sport. Whether I'm the face or not, I'm just ready to help my team win."
At the NBA Draft Media Day, Zion reflected on his time at Duke and the challenge of getting to close on time when he was approached by students for numerous pictures with the future NBA star.
"A lot of selfies," Williamson said.
"A lot of 'I'm sorry to bother, but can I get a picture' and I'd say 'Yeah' because I didn't mind. Sometimes the teacher would look at me like 'Uh, you're a little late, there' and I'd say 'Sorry, like I had to stop and take a few pictures'."
That trend will no doubt continue for the forseeable future.