Williams to return to lineup for NCAA Tournament

Arkansas forward Jaylin Williams celebrates following a play during a game against Alabama on Feb. 24, 2021, in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

Arkansas freshman Jaylin Williams will make his return to the lineup next week for the NCAA Tournament, Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said Saturday.

Williams, a 6-10 forward from Fort Smith, has missed Arkansas’ last four games for an undisclosed reason. He traveled to Nashville, Tenn., for the SEC Tournament but was not in uniform for either of the Razorbacks’ games.

Arkansas defeated South Carolina, Texas A&M and Missouri without Williams, but fell 78-71 to LSU on Saturday.

“Jaylin will be back,” Musselman said. “It changes the complexion of who we are. We'll see if we make a change to the starting lineup, but we’ve got to get better.”

In Williams’ absence, forward Ethan Henderson saw his role increase. He scored 4 points and blocked 2 shots against Missouri on Friday in 9 minutes, and finished with 4 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks over a season-high 26 minutes against LSU.

Graduate-transfer forward Justin Smith also played all 40 minutes in the Razorbacks’ 87-80 win over the Aggies on March 6.

“Jaylin coming back is going to be an extra plus,” freshman guard Moses Moody said Saturday.

Williams is averaging 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds this season, and 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds against SEC competition.