NFL
By: Kevin Lucas
The Arkansas Razorbacks are one of the hottest teams in the country right now, winning 11 of their last 12 games and currently ranked as the 18th best team in the nation. A huge reason for a majority of their success this season is due to their multitalented, elite sophomore big man Jaylin Williams. Straight from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and standing at 6’10, as a freshman Williams played in 26 games and started in 5 of them including the tough loss in the Elite 8 to the Baylor Bears who of course went on to win the NCAA Tournament in 2021. He also led the team in charges taken (16) that season showing Razorback nation a sign of good things to come in the near future even though he only averaged a mere 3.7 points per game.
Fast forward to this 2021-22 season and Jaylin Williams is now the best player in the country that hardly anyone is talking about. In a game that features elite veteran big men like Oscar Tshiebwe, Hunter Dickinson, and Walker Kessler, you can make the case that Williams is the most NBA-ready big out there. Averaging close to a double-double, Jaylin has become the backbone of this Arkansas squad on both ends of the floor, whether it’s the high-level playmaking all across the court or just his relentless motor crashing the glass and hauling in every rebound that touches his hands. He only averages just about 3 assists per game but that doesn’t even come close to showing just how gifted he is as a passer, as he is the hogs’ primary facilitator because he has the mindset of a point guard, always knowing where his teammates are and where the holes of the defense are located at. When you turn on his film you notice the little things that pop out from his patience to the elegance he plays with, to the simple ball-fakes he uses to get the defense off-balance. You can tell that he has truly honed the basic fundamentals of the game and is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win. Not to mention that he also has drawn 41 charges (and counting) this season which is unheard of for 99% of frontcourt players because their main focus is on blocking shots and not putting their bodies on the line as Jaylin does.
Jaylin’s jumper is where the biggest area of improvement lies but that shouldn’t be a concern due to his smooth-looking form and mechanics on his release. It’s all about repetition, consistency and simply putting up more and more shots that will come in due time. Being coached by a brilliant basketball mind like Eric Musselman will only further help develop Jaylin in his game and hopefully prepare him for a nice and long professional basketball career whenever he does decide to leave Fayetteville and hang up his hogs jersey. Sports evolve every single day (for better or for worse) and hoopers like Jaylin Williams are just subtle reminders that the game of basketball is headed in the right direction.
