Sharonda Sampson was most concerned about her young son. His knees developed tiny knots and ached so badly at times over the course of two summers that Sampson iced them to ease the pain.
Zion Williamson grew five inches between eighth and ninth grade, and another four inches the following year, sprouting from a stocky 5-foot-10 to a manly 6-7. In what seemed like an overnight transformation, Williamson went from being a potential college prospect as a point guard to one of the nation’s most sought-after players as a multiposition talent who could both handle the ball and play power ball around the rim.