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Zion Williamson: Basketball and Baseball Star?

By Joseph Romano

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Zion Williamson speaks to the media after being selected number one overall by the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Matteo Marchi/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Zion Williamson speaks to the media after being selected number one overall by the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Matteo Marchi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Pelicans just landed Duke standout Zion Williamson with the first selection of the 2019 NBA Entry Draft. Zion is widely recognized as a freakish athlete and one might expect him to prosper at sports other than basketball. It turns out that baseball is high on that list.

According to Zion Williamson’s former high school coach, he exceeded on the baseball diamond and football field along with the basketball court. Lee Sartor was Zion’s coach at Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina. He attests that he saw the phenom unleash a home run he estimates to be nearly 400 feet.

Draft season comes with many tales, especially for the premium draft picks. One could not be criticized for doubting Sartor’s reports, however, video exists of the first overall selection unfurling a pass with a football that travels nearly 70 yards. There is no doubt that he is an outstanding athlete both on and off of the basketball court.

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Many players have been well noted as multi-sport athletes. Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson played both football and baseball at the pro levels.

Many NFL players, especially tight ends, are well-noted as being former college basketball players. Giants SP Jeff Samardzija was a starting wide receiver at Notre Dame and Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was a first-round draft pick by the Oakland A’s.

It is clear that when an athlete is dynamic enough in terms of raw talent, he or she can excel at any sport. The same qualities that make Zion Williamson a fearful force on the court allow him the power that is required to crush 400-foot long balls.

He stands at 6’7” and 285 pounds, which allows him to slice through his opponents’ defense like a hot knife through butter. That same stature allows easy power that would have to be harnessed properly in order to be a productive player. He will of course grow and develop at the NBA level, by honing his natural talents and building upon them.

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In essence, Zion is not equipped to be a player in the MLB, however, he impressive gifts are not only restricted to the basketball court.

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