Fayetteville – Jaylin Williams, who has just finished his sophomore season in Arkansas, is the 41st in the NBA Draft when Oklahoma City Thunder picks a 6-10 forward in the fourth pick (34th overall) in the second round. It became a razor back.
He was Thunder’s first razorback in the NBA Draft, making Williams the 16th-chosen player in school history. (Note: Dean Tolson was selected in the fifth round by the Seattle SuperSonics, who became Thunder in the 1974 NBA Draft.)
“I would like to congratulate Jarin for being drafted by Oklahoma City,” said head coach Eric Musselman. “He would be perfect for Thunder. He has a high IQ in basketball, is capable of rebounding, and is playing in a dribble handoff, so he is a player who should be able to join and contribute immediately. Our staff , Very happy with Jaylin and his family. “
This is the fourth year in the NBA Draft with Razorback, with the addition of Arkansas-born Daniel Gafford, Isaiah Joe and Moses Moody. Joe, Moody and Williams played for Masselman, and Joe and Williams were high school teammates at Fort Smith Northside.
Williams, Athletic This past season’s All-Glue Team has helped Arkansas make consecutive appearances in NCAA Elite 8. From 2021 to 22 he established himself as one of the top defensive players in the country, one of the top rebounders in the country, and one of the top pass Big Man.
He was nominated for the Lefty Dry Cell Defensive All-American and for the SEC All-Defensive Team. He also led the NCAA in 54 prosecutions from 2021 to 2010 and Razorbucks in prosecution as a freshman at the age of 16.
Williams was fifth in the National Collegiate Rebound with a school record of 364, sixth in the defensive rebound with the NCAA (8.32), and 19th in the NCAA with total rebound per game (9.84). In addition, he was ranked 15th in the NCAA with 16 double-doubles across the last 23 games, including seven consecutive game wins.
He ranked third in the team, with 95 assists and more than 3 assists in 16 games.
Williams was also named the first team All-SEC by the league coach, the second team by the media, and the NCAA WestRegionalAll-Tournament team. Williams also won two SEC Player of the Week honors and was on the USBWA and NABC National Basketball Teams.
Williams averaged 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds this past season. This is significantly higher than the freshman campaign with an average of 3.7 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Williams was part of the inauguration and exaggerated recruitment class of Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman. The Consensus Stop 5 Group also featured Moody, selected by the 2022 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors in the first one-off draw in Arkansas.
This is the fourth consecutive year that coach Massellman has drafted players including Cody Martin (Nevada), Joe Moody and Williams.
Jaylin Williams 2021-22 Honor
- ALL-GLUE TEAM (1/6) by THE Athletic (Seth Davis)
- LeftyDriesellDefensive All-America Team (1/31) by CollegeInsider.com
- NCAA West Regional All Tournament Team
- All Districts VII by USBWA (1 10-person team)
- NABC 2nd Team All Districts 20 (Awarding a total of 10 players)
- SEC All-Defensive Team (Coach)
- Team 1 All-SEC (Coach)
- 2nd Team All-SEC (The Associated Press)
- This Week’s SEC Co-Player (January 24th)
- This Week’s SEC Co-Player (February 21st)
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