FORT SMITH — There’s no doubt Fort Smith Northside needed every one of Arkansas pledge Jaylin Williams’ 21 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists to take down visiting No. 1 North Little Rock 45-42 on Friday.
But just as big for Williams (6-10, 235) and the Grizzliles later were two defensive plays, a block with just over two minutes left, and a charge taken in the last few seconds of the game when the Charging Wildcats had a chance to take the lead both times.
“I think Jaylin is in the stat book in every category,” Northside coach Eric Burnett said. “I tell people all the time that he can control the game on both ends of the floor. The huge charge at the end, the big block. He scored, he rebounded, he had assists to his teammates when he was double teamed. He does everything.”
It was one of three blocks in the game for Williams.
“Defense is just as important as offense to me, and we had to make those defensive plays and turn them into offense on the other end,” Williams said.
Williams had the big game with Arkansas coach Eric Musselman and Razorbacks assistant Corey Williams looking on.
“Just let me have him for like eight more games and then he can have him,” Burnett said with a laugh. “Then he can go help the Razorbacks like he has us.”
Musselman and his staff make that clear to Williams, who picked Arkansas over co-finalist Auburn on Nov. 23, a few days after the early signing period ended.
Williams remains firmly committed to the Razorbacks and can see they need him and the other three top-100 nationally ranked members of Arkansas’ 2020 class, which ESPN places No. 6 nationally.
He’ll join fellow commits Moses Moody and Khalen Robinson and signee Davonte Davis along with three redshirting transfers to give the Razorbacks (17-10) a major talent and depth infusion for the 2020-21 season.
“You can tell that Coach Musselman pushes them and makes sure they hustle and play defense even if they are not scoring like they want to,” Williams said. “But you can tell they also need players. I think almost every day they tell me they could sure use me for their next game and they are ready for me to be down there with them.”
He looks forward to playing with former Northside star Isaiah Joe, who missed six games with a knee injury, but had 21 points on Saturday lead Arkansas to a 78-68 win over Missouri to end a five-game losing streak.
Williams led his team to a state title last season after Joe had done so two years earlier.
“All three years we have been in about the same position and have turned it up during the playoffs, but we need to do that a little earlier so we could secure this second spot,” Williams said. “This was a big win for us.”