2022 SLAM HS All-American Teams

dominance to Durham that Elizabeth did.

Behind a conference-best 110 swats, Mark enacted one of the most dominant displays of interior mastery in recent memory, averaging 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and a fifth-best in the nation 2.8 blocks per game, while shooting 72 percent from the floor.

Things weren’t always peaches and cream as a Blue Devil, however, as Elizabeth remembers Mark embracing the struggles of fighting for playing time on a stacked roster as a freshman. She was tactical in her advice, trusting the teachings of legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff, but also providing insight into how his vulnerability with the program could yield the results he was looking for.

“Sometimes it takes a little bit of time and a little bit of getting through the dirt. And I think even having conversations with him, seeing his mindset change his sophomore year, and being more consistent and trusting that his work was paying off, I think that’s what was cool to see, ” Elizabeth says.

At 28 (Elizabeth) and 20 (Mark), the eight-year age gap that once separated their interests has since fostered more mature, impactful conversations about the situations the two now find themselves in. “I can ask her about a bunch of stuff that applies to her now that I haven’t really experienced yet, ” says Mark.

One constant, however, has never faded: the siblings’ love for snatching the ball out of the air in the blink of an eye.

Considered one of the best post players to ever play in the Bull City, Elizabeth—the 2015 National Defensive Player of the Year—was drafted fourth overall in the WNBA Draft that same year. While the siblings struggled to find their footing in the first year within their respective spaces, the Williams family isn’t one to lull around in any predicament they find themselves in.

Months before her sophomore season, Elizabeth was dealt to the Atlanta Dream, where she began her resurgence—ranking sixth in the W with 41 blocks, averaging a career-best 11.9

points and 8.1 rebounds per game and ultimately being named the 2016 Most Improved Player.

Four years later, she’d finally be named to her first All-Defensive team despite ranking sixth in the W’s history and third among current players with a career average of 1.7 blocks per game.

“Whenever my brother gets a block, too, I get so excited because I’m like, Yes, this is you! This is your pride! It’s such a big part of the game. A block can change the game just as much as a big three, so I love that, ” says Elizabeth.

has yielded undeniable growth, as the bond between the siblings has never been stronger.

“Just seeing how much we’ ve grown and connected these past couple years has been just really fun, honestly, and I’m grateful for it, ” Elizabeth says. “He knows he could text me whenever, I’ll answer. ”

As two siblings who fell in love with the smooth pebble grain of the ball at an early age, Mark says the conversations as of late have been filled with hoops. With Mark’s dream of becoming an NBA player just weeks away, E can’t help but prod her baby bro about how he sees himself indulging in the lifestyle of a professional athlete. From the first whip he’s gonna buy to the fit he’s gonna be wearing on draft night—expect a suave look with some flair from the 7-footer—the fun part of the siblings’ next chapter is starting to be realized.

“Like, how cool is it that my brother is about to be drafted to the NBA? Like, that’s freaking dope, ” says Elizabeth. “I watch the NBA, [and] he’s about to be in there. And I’m in the W [and] he’s watching me. Like, what is this? It’s kind of mindblowing. ”

“I don’t think it’s gonna hit me ’til draft night but, yeah, it’s crazy, ” Mark adds. “Now that I’m a part of that, it’s special. It’s pretty cool to be able to say, Yeah, my sister’s a pro, too. ” S

2022 SLAM ALL-AMERICANS

Clockwise from top left: Amari, Dereck, Kyle, Nick, Keyonte and Dariq

After a two-year hiatus (due to Covid), we were finally able to do a proper All-American shoot this year. And trust us, this group’s talent on the court and swagger off it more than makes up for the break.

Clockwise from top left: Flau’jae, Maya, Lauren, Janiah, Paris and Kiki P O R T R A I T S O S C A R C A S T I L L O

His time is now. Moving from Chicago to the bright lights of Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles, Amari Bailey has been a staple for the Trailblazers in his four years with the program. A state champion, gold medalist, McDonald’s All American—there’s not much else for Bailey to achieve. That is, until he goes across town to UCLA’s campus, where he will look to elevate the excellence of Mick Cronin’s program in the hills.

Modern day basketball loves Kyle Filipowski. Whether you need a bucket, a dime from the top of the key or a defensive stop, the big man can do all of the above and more. Son of former Parade All American and Long Beach State center Rebecca (Hagerdon) Filipowski, Kyle was born into basketball, like his brother Matt, who will play for Harvard in the fall. Kyle will head to Durham to form a frightening frontcourt duo with Dereck Lively.

He’s one of one. Keyonte George is a crafty guard who can score on all three levels at will. Just ask those who he gave buckets to at the 2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup tournament en route to a gold medal. He’ll be heading to Baylor this fall to join Scott Drew ’s squad with the hopes of raising a different type of gold next spring.

Seven-footers shouldn’t move like this. Then again, basketball runs through Dereck Lively ’s blood. His mother, Kathy Drysdale, was a 1,000-point scorer at Penn State University. His hooper genes helped him go from a 7-year-old hesitant to play basketball to one of the top prospects in his class. After an outstanding high school career, he’ll be the anchor down low for a new era of Duke basketball post-Coach K. Housing a winner’s heart, Lively is sure to make some noise with the Blue Devils.

Hometown legends live forever. Nick Smith Jr will be no exception to this rule, as the Arkansas born-and-raised hooper will join Eric Musselman’s squad at the University of Arkansas in the fall. Smith Jr has had a prolific senior year, capturing the 6A Arkansas State Championship, being named a McDonald’s All American and winning the 2022 Jordan Brand Classic MVP, along with many others. Simply put, this kid will give opposing teams nightmares for years to come.

Watch your head. Newark’s Dariq Whitehead is an uber-athletic wing destined to break his family ’s football traditions. All of his older siblings played football, and his brother Tahir has played 10 years in the NFL. However, at 13 years old, Dariq made the difficult decision to attend Montverde Academy and commit to basketball full-time. Since then, he’s won two national championships and was named the 2022 Naismith HS Player of the Year and the 2022 McDonald’s All American Game MVP. Whitehead will look to continue his winning ways at Duke this fall.