Notae’s Departure, Hogs’ Jr. High QB recruit & Mike Talks NIL Solution
Williams putting name into NBA Draft … for now anyway
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas sophomore Jaylin Williams may be headed to the NBA Draft.
Or maybe not. Razorback fans will keep their fingers (and probably toes if possible) crossed.
The 6-10 sophomore from Fort Smith Northside made his intentions known late Monday afternoon via a release.
“I am announcing my intention to enter the 2022 NBA Draft process,” he said in a press released from Arkansas Communications. “However, I will not be hiring an agent to keep my eligibility with the University of Arkansas intact. I look forward to learning from the upcoming process, going through the interviews, gathering feedback and building relationships with NBA coaches and front office personnel.
“My gratitude to Coach (Eric) Musselman and the staff goes beyond words for helping me be in this position. I will keep all my options open and, after going through the process and talking with my family, my support group and the Arkansas coaching staff, I will make an informed decision when the appropriate time comes.”
Where he would fall in the pecking order of a two-round draft will be the subject of speculation at least until the June 1 deadline to take his name out of the conversation.
Mock drafts have him rated, but with the announcement Monday afternoon it is certain to be revised because now he is actually in play to be seriously considered.
Williams averaged 10.9 points on 46.1% shooting and 9.8 rebounds per game. He finished with 364 total rebounds — 308 defensive — to break Derek Hood’s 23-year-old single-season program record, and became the first Razorback to average 9.8 in a season since Mike Washington in 2008-09.
The forward made his star turn as Arkansas surged in the final two-and-a-half months of the season. He averaged 6.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the team’s first 13 games.
Williams led Arkansas defensively with 54 charges taken, 41 blocks and was second with 48 steals. When he was the nearest Razorbacks defender to a shot, opponents made 37.2% of two-point attempts during the regular season, including 36.4% in SEC play.
Saturday Down South’s Connor O’Gara looking at championship game
With Kansas playing North Carolina tonight for national championship, at least Connor O’Gara’s still keeping eye on bracket.
Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- O’Gara
KU vs. UNC; Gamecocks Win WBB natty; Hogs take 2 of 3 from Hail State; Best Fan Fielding
Guest- Connor O’Gara
Democrat-Gazette’s Tom Murphy on JD Notae’s decision to not come back
Trying the NBA Draft instead of joining talented recruiting class coming to Hogs could prove interesting decision for future.
Matt Jenkins recapping a big WrestleMania event this weekend
Former Halftime co-host at biggest annual event in professional wrestling and gave a report on what was, again, an extravaganza.
Diamond Hawgs S2E16: Mississippi State Series Recap, Weekend MVP’s and SEC Standings
Join Mason Choate and Robert Stewart as they recap each game of Arkansas’ series victory over Mississippi State. They guys do a deep dive on how the Hogs fared, pick weekend MVP’s and take a look around the SEC to round it out.
LIVE Halftime is LIVE. CBB Natty, CFB, Hogs BSB, MLB and more… 877-377-6963
11:30 – Connor O’Gara
KU vs. UNC; Gamecocks Win WBB natty; Hogs take 2 of 3 from Hail State; Best Fan Fielding Call or text, 877-377-6963
Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: JD Notae heading to the NBA Draft
Tye & Tommy on JD’s decision, the baseball series win, Smackdown joins from Wrestlemania and more!
Diamond Hogs fall to Mississippi State in extras
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas repeatedly struggled to deliver Mississippi State a fatal blow Sunday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium, hitting 0-8 with runners in scoring position.
The defending national champs hung two runs on the Hogs in the 12th inning, salvaging the a game in the series with a 5-3 win.
The first five runs of the contest all came on solo homers, with Mississippi State scoring the first two. First baseman Luke Hancock hit his second bomb in as many games in the first inning, and second baseman RJ Yeager doubled the lead in the third.
Arkansas junior left fielder Zack Gregory hit an opposite-field shot, his second longball of the series, in the bottom of the third, and senior center fielder Braydon Webb tied it in the fourth with his team-leading sixth big fly of the season.
Razorback starter Jaxon Wiggins’ outing came to a close after just 80 pitches. The sophomore righty got through five innings, allowed two singles, a walk and a hit batter in addition to the two solo homers and struck out five Bulldogs.
Senior left-hander Evan Taylor entered in the sixth inning, and he allowed the fifth solo blast of the afternoon to Mississippi State catcher Logan Tanner, who went deep in Friday’s game as well. The Hogs responded in the bottom of the sixth, as graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli scored on a sacrifice fly by senior designated hitter Brady Slavens.
Senior righty Zebulon Vermillion bailed Taylor, who hit the leadoff man, out with three outs on five pitches in the seventh, and freshman righty Brady Tygart struck out all six hitters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.
Arkansas loaded the bases in the ninth with one out, and the Bulldogs turned to right-hander Jackson Fristoe to keep the game alive. He did exactly that, fanning freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall and punching out graduate catcher Michael Turner.
Tygart surrendered a leadoff single in the top of the 10th, but he stranded the runner at third following a sacrifice bunt and a pair of groundouts.
After a quiet bottom of the 10th, he returned for a fourth inning of work.
After a groundout, his first walk, his seventh strikeout and a hit batter, the Razorbacks turned to Kole Ramage for the final out. The senior righty struck out left fielder Brad Cumbest on three pitches, giving the Hogs another chance to walk it off.
With runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the 11th, Stovall hit a liner to first, which was caught and thrown to second base for a double play.
After recording two outs in the 12th, Ramage walked third baseman Kamren James on five pitches and allowed RBI singles to Hancock and Tanner.
Fristoe capped off 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 12th.
The Razorbacks are set to return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday, when Central Arkansas visits Fayetteville.
The game will stream live on the SEC Network+ and on HitThatLine.com plus on ESPN Arkansas radio stations.
