Zion Williamson and Bryson Bishop, a high school rival, reunite

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9:04 PM ET

  • Andrew LopezESPN

BIRMINGHAM (Ala.) — “Hey! You’re the guy that guarded Zion. Right?”

Bryson Bishop heard it a few times since a viral video of him was released in eighth grade guarding The high school version New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson.

Williamson, then 6-foot-6, was amazed to see Bishop, then 5-foot-6, eighth grader, as he took his task to guard Williamson.

On Friday night, the two met again in Birmingham, Alabama. Williamson and Pelicans were visiting Birmingham for a preseason friendly against the Atlanta Hawks. Bishop is a freshman at the Birmingham-Southern Panthers The men’s basketball team recreated Williamson’s viral moment in the hallway next to the locker room at Legacy Arena.

Bishop and Williamson spoke for approximately 10 minutes before Friday’s match, where Bishop presented Williamson the No. 1 jersey from Birmingham Southern.

Bishop stated that “I have been waiting for this since the last week” and that it was the best moment of my life.

Bishop stated that he was nervous about Friday’s meeting. But Williamson’s demeanor made him feel immediately at ease.

Bishop said, “I think that the coolest thing about him was that he picked up on us like we have known each others forever, so it was pretty cool.”

Bishop mentioned that he briefly considered moving to Spartanburg Day School after this season. The two of them spoke then. They spoke for the first time since Friday night.

Bishop spoke of his conversation about Williamson, saying that he believes Williamson is a person whose family comes from the same area and knows the same people. “He has always been someone who is down to Earth and talks to people, especially those he knows.” A moment like this, I believe it speaks volumes about who he is.


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