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Arkansas sophomore Jaylin Williams makes NBA Draft decision

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•04/04/22•

ChandlerVessels

Arkansas sophomore forward Jaylin Williams will enter his name in the 2022 NBA Draft, per CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Williams will maintain his eligibility by not signing with an agent and could still return to Fayetteville for the 2022-23 season.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward made major strides in his second collegiate season, starting 35 games while averaging 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. He was also a critical part of the Razorbacks’ run to the Elite Eight this season, averaging 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds across their four NCAA Tournament games. Williams also displayed a willingness to take charges, recording more than 50 in his sophomore season.

Williams was not projected to be taken in either the first or second round of the draft according to a recent ESPN mock draft, so the likelihood of his return is still somewhat high. By entering his name in the draft, he will get the opportunity to participate in the NBA Combine from May 16-22. Williams will then have 10 days from the end of the combine to either keep his name in the draft or remove it and come back to Arkansas.

A native of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Williams was the state’s High School Player of the Year in 2020. He came to Fayetteville as a four-star prospect and was also a member of the USA Under-19 Team during the summer of 2021. He helped the USA go undefeated at the FIBA World Cup that year, as they defeated France 83-81 to claim the championship.

As a freshman in 2020-21, Williams made five starts while averaging 15.9 minutes across a total of 26 games. He immediately proved himself as an elite rebounder, leading the team with 12.1 boards on a per 40 minute basis. Arkansas also advanced to the Elite Eight that year after finishing with a 25-7 record under Eric Musselman.

The 2022 NBA Draft will take place June 23 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. One Razorback other than Williams who will hope to hear his name called is JD Notae, who led the team with 19.3 points per game and 3.7 assists this past season.