Story highlights Williamson's shoe breaks after 33 seconds

Teenager tipped as next big thing in basketball

Duke goes down 88-72 to UNC

(CNN) A star-studded crowd including former US President Barack Obama had gathered to watch hotly tipped college basketball player Zion Williamson, but the 18-year-old's night unraveled after just 33 seconds when his Nike shoe fell apart.

Williamson, thought by many to be basketball's brightest prospect since LeBron James, went down hard when his shoe split in half while planting his foot, forcing him off with a knee injury seconds into Duke University's much-anticipated encounter against North Carolina.

Tickets for the local derby were reportedly available for over $3,000 and freshman forward Williamson -- described by double NBA champion Kevin Durant as a "once-in-a-generation athlete" -- was a big reason for the inflated prices.

Williamson's top-ranked Duke side was on a nine-match winning streak, but without their 285-pound 6 feet 8 inch star player the Blue Devils fell to a 88-72 defeat Wednesday.

"Obviously, you lose a national player of the year candidate there are going to be gaps in what you have to do," said coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Read More