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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Bryan Kalbrosky

NBA Draft prospect Jaylin Williams: ‘I like being the underdog. That’s always been my thing.’

Arkansas Razorbacks big man Jaylin Williams is one of the more intriguing big men in the draft, and arguably the best passer at his position.

Williams, who is still just 19 years old and measured at 6’10” in shoes (with massive hands) at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, has advanced playmaking instincts in the short roll and on dribble handoffs. It is especially impressive when considering his age, size, and usage rate.

As an underclassman who sets fantastic screens and makes the right hustle plays, the big man also had an elite impact on winning while at Arkansas.

As we saw during the surprising Arkansas upset victory over Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament, Williams is willing to put his body on the line if it helps his team. He averaged 1.8 charges drawn per 40 minutes, according to CBB Analytics, the most among all D-I players who logged at least 700 minutes last season.

Although there is plenty of room to improve his efficiency when shooting from beyond the arc and finishing at the rim, Williams projects well due to his ability to read rotations on both ends of the floor.

All things considered, it is easy to imagine Williams playing a role in the frontcourt at the next level. The prospect spoke to For The Win about exactly that, including how his game will translate to the NBA, and plenty more.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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