Jaylin Williams: 3 things to know about the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball forward

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Jaylin Williams arrived at Arkansas as a four-star recruit and ranked as one of the top 100 players in the country, according to Arkansas.

His first year, it paid off down the stretch. Williams only started five games in 2020-21, but it included the final three games of the 2021 NCAA Tournament as the Arkansas Razorbacks reached the Elite Eight.

His sophomore year resulted in Williams being named to the Southeastern Conference all-conference first team.

Here's some basic information about Jaylin Williams:

  • Height: 6 feet, 10 inches

  • Weight: 240 pounds

  • Wingspan: 7 feet, 1.5 inches

  • Age: 19 years old

  • Birthday: June 29, 2002

  • Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas

  • High school: Northside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas

  • Parents: Michael and Linda Williams

Find out three more things to know about Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball forward Jaylin Williams.

Jaylin Williams slashed body fat after freshman year

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrates the team's victory over the New Mexico State Aggies with a final score of 48-53 in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 19, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrates the team's victory over the New Mexico State Aggies with a final score of 48-53 in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 19, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Jaylin Williams said he cut his body fat from 18% at the start of his freshman year to 13% at the end of his freshman season. By January 2022, Williams' body fat percentage was down to 8% when he appeared on the "Hog Pod" podcast.

"I've lost all the body fat," Williams said on the podcast. "I've stayed the same weight."

Williams said cutting that body fat helped him be a better player during his sophomore season in 2021-22.

"I feel like me changing my body is one of the biggest things of my game," Williams said. "I feel quicker. I feel like I'm jumping better. My outside shot has gotten better. Just being able to play more physical, faster. I'm able to switch on smaller guys a lot better, play better on defense. I don't get tired as easy. Really, I think a lot of my game is around my body changing this past year."

Jaylin Williams played high school basketball with NBA guard Isaiah Joe

Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe (1) against LSU during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe (1) against LSU during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe were teammates at Northside High School, and together they reached the 2018 Arkansas state final.

Joe followed up that season by playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 2018-20. He averaged 15.2 points per game in his two seasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers took Joe with the 49th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He played 41 games for the 76ers in the 2020-21 season.

Jaylin Williams won a high school state title

Jan 26, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Jaylin Williams (10) looks for an open lane as Mississippi Rebels guard-forward Luis Rodriguez (15) defends during the first half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Jaylin Williams (10) looks for an open lane as Mississippi Rebels guard-forward Luis Rodriguez (15) defends during the first half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylin Williams averaged 18.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 blocked shots per game during his senior season in 2019-20. He was also named the 2020 Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year.

That came after a junior year he averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds on the way to leading Northside to an Arkansas Class 6A state title.

In the 2019 state title game, Williams had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocked shots. Northside beat Bryant 44-41.

Here's more Jaylin Williams news:

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrates with head coach Eric Musselman after defeating the New Mexico State Aggies with a final score of 48-53 in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 19, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrates with head coach Eric Musselman after defeating the New Mexico State Aggies with a final score of 48-53 in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 19, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Check out the Jaylin Williams bio on the Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball website.

Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Jaylin Williams: 3 facts on the Arkansas basketball forward