Staff Report
Northside’s Jaylin Williams has made it official.
He will be sporting the Arkansas maroon and white next season.
According to HawgNation, the 6-9, 230-pound forward/center from Fort Smith (Ark.) Northside – who led his team to the state title as a junior – went public with a commitment video that was released via Instagram on Saturday afternoon, to become Eric Musselman’s third addition for the Class of 2020.
Williams chose the Hogs over co-finalist Auburn, but also held offers from Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, UCONN, Illinois, TCU and several others. The Natural State native made an unofficial visit in Fayetteville on November 5 and then returned to the Hill for another visit just four days later.
Williams officially trimmed his list to the final two schools on Nov. 14 before deciding to become a Razorback.
The four-star big gives Arkansas a trio of four-stars for this year’s class as he joins combo guard Davonte Davis of Jacksonville (Ark.) and shooting guard Moses Moody, a Little Rock (Ark.) native who currently attends Montverde Academy in Montverde (Fla.).
Next Thursday, the Razorbacks could receive even more good news when four-star guard KK Robinson makes his Thanksgiving Day announcement. The Bryant (Ark.) native who attends Oak Hill Academy in Virginia is down to Kansas and Arkansas. Seven Crystal Ball predictions have been made on Robinson thus far, and all seven have him staying at home to play with the three other Arkansas natives.
24/7 Sports Director of Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer had the following to say about Williams after seeing him live on July 19, 2019:
“Good frame and adequate length for a post player,” Meyer said in his evaluation notes. “Does have potential as an inside/outside scoring threat. Is a determined rebounder. Tough on the offensive and defensive boards. Runs the floor well and is an active rebounder. Good in ball screen scenarios on both ends of the court. Still very much developing as an offensive player.”
With Williams now on board, Arkansas’ class currently sits at No. 8 in the country and one spot ahead of defending national champion Virginia. Based on the 24/7 Sports Class Calculator, if Arkansas adds Robinson it will end up with a projected team score of 64.84, which would currently be good for fifth in the nation though several teams will continue to move up and down as more commitments are made. Based on the past four years, a score of 64.84 would be a safe bet to finish inside the top 15 with a decent shot at landing somewhere in the back end of the top ten.
Musselman’s current team is off to a 5-0 start after defeating South Dakota, 77-56, Friday night inside Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks will face their first road test on Monday with a trip to Georgia Tech (2-1).
Tip is set for 6 p.m. central with the game to be televised by the ACC Network.
Faulkner County Focus Sports 