Durham

On Monday, the tallest Duke player became the first in the Blue Devils’ annual parade of players leaving school for the NBA to make his move official.

Mark Williams, a 7-1, 242-pound sophomore center named ACC defensive player of the year while helping Duke reach the Final Four, announced his intention to turn professional and enter the NBA Draft. He is in the process of hiring an agent, which would thus prevent him from returning to school.

“Mark was a joy to coach,” retired Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement released by the school. “This is such a special moment for him and his incredible family, and we will miss having the Williamses in our program. Mark was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best shot blockers in the country, but that doesn’t tell the entire story about the type of player he is. He is gifted at both ends of the floor and is driven to get even better every day. The NBA team that drafts Mark is obviously getting a talented player, but an equally impressive young man off the court that will represent their organization with class. I cannot wait to watch him at the next level.”

NBA Draft projections consider Williams to be selected in the middle of the first round of the June 23 NBA Draft, with some saying Williams’ NCAA tournament play impressed scouts enough that he could be selected late in the lottery section.

The Charlotte…