High School

Zion Williamson re-creates viral high school basketball mismatch video before NBA game

Williamson gave a memorable reaction to an undersized eighth grader's energetic ball-denial — and finally reunited with the former opponent

Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports

Zion Williamson, standout NBA forward whose high school dominance launched him into viral stardom, remembers one moment from a game that went especially viral — and wasn't a high-flying dunk. 

It was his reaction to Bryson Bishop, a 5-foot-6 eighth grader for rival Oakbrook Prep (S.C.) sizing him up to defend him despite the massive mismatch in size during the fourth quarter of a lopsided game in 2017, Williamson's junior year at Spartanburg Day (S.C.).

On Friday, the two reunited for a photo before the New Orleans Pelicans' preseason game against Atlanta and recreated Williamson's reaction from the 2017 mismatch.

The two embraced and took a photo together, and Bishop responded to the recreated clip on social media. 

"Coolest moment in my life for sure! I appreciate the opportunity to do this," he said, tagging Williamson and the Pelicans.

It's a moment the 22-year old hasn't forgotten. Williamson was asked about the video in an interview with JJ Reddick on his Old Man & the Three podcast in March 2021. He recalled the moment and recalled Bishop by name. 

"I'll never forget that," Williamson said. "That was our rival ... we're up 30 at this point. We come out of a timeout, and he starts walking over to me, and I'm like 'no way.' "

Williamson looked to the baseline out of frame toward his high school athletic director and track coach, pointed to Bishop in a defensive stance with his arm around the then-five star prospect, and flashed a confused look.

"I was like 'are they serious?' Then he fouled me." Williamson continued. "Thing is, I've got a lot of respect for him for doing that because his teammates were so out of it, he was just trying to give them energy ... but when it was happening in the moment, I was like 'no way, don't disrespect me like that.' "

Watch the original video

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Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports
ANDY BUHLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Andy Buhler is a Regional Editor of Texas and the national breaking news desk. He brings more than five years of experience covering high school sports across the state of Washington and beyond, where he covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason served on state tournament seeding committees. He works on the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a degree from Gonzaga and is based out of Portland, Oregon.

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