With Chet Holmgren sidelined for the foreseeable future and Derrick Favors presumably on his means out, the Thunder’s minutes on the middle place are in query. While Jeremiah Robinson-Earl did an admirable job of filling in final season, it’s not his pure function. Good factor the franchise drafted a second huge within the 2022 NBA Draft. That’s Jaylin Williams from Arkansas.
A former Gatorade Player of the Year in the identical state he performed school ball, the 6-foot-10 middle is aware of what it takes to win. Between stints at Northside High School and the University of Arkansas, Williams’ successes have led him to a state title, state championship match MVP honors, two Division 1 Player of the Year awards, and choices to First-Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive groups.
As a sophomore at Arkansas, the Vietnamese-American huge man shortly made a reputation for himself, displaying how effectively he processed the sport from a defensive perspective and proving his toughness by enjoying by accidents. As scouts began to take discover, flashes of a future NBA roleplayer may very well be seen. A giant defensive play right here, a superb rotation there. A easy three-pointer or a well timed help.
Williams would go on to complete his second 12 months at Arkansas averaging 10.9 factors, 9.8 boards, and 2.6 assists over 37 video games. And regardless of simply ending with simply 1.1 blocks per sport, his rim deterrence and total defensive affect actually can’t be captured with a quantity. He additionally cemented himself within the Razorbacks’ document books, setting the one-season document for complete rebounds and recording 16 double-doubles, together with seven straight.
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As proven in Oklahoma City’s Summer League play, Williams additionally possesses a big quantity of offensive potential for the teaching workers to unlock. According to Synergy Sports, 29.6% of his 71 possessions resulted in assists. That’s an extremely excessive quantity for a middle and the attention take a look at appears to corroborate his affect as a passer. Whether it was firing bullets to leakers in transition or slipping a dime in between two defenders within the put up, the massive man’s imaginative and prescient was on full show. And whereas Williams leaves a lot to be desired from a capturing standpoint, there’s something there, nevertheless small, with regard to his contact and his shot choice.
Perhaps the Thunder are hoping the Arkansas rebounding machine can present some worth within the frontcourt within the type of rebounding, physicality, and playmaking for a staff that completed useless final in area aim proportion. And possibly Williams’ physicality, intelligence, and competitiveness can be precisely what the staff wants this 12 months and can earn just a few begins. But, to ensure that the gifted former Razorback to influence the teaching workers to allocate significant minutes for him, he might want to present that his profitable methods can translate to the massive leagues.
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story by The Texas Tribune Source link