FAYETTEVILLE — Dating back to March 21, Jaylin Williams has set or matched a career high in assists three times in five games.
As a freshman, he dazzled against Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament and flashed vision and passing brilliance — in the half court as well as transition — not often found in college forwards. He was a catalyst in Arkansas’ 68-66 victory over the Red Raiders, finishing with a team-high four assists as the Razorbacks advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in his lifetime.
Williams has begun his sophomore season by topping that performance twice.
As Arkansas enters Wednesday’s home game against Northern Iowa, the 6-10 forward, by a decent margin, has been the Razorbacks’ best facilitator and shot creator for teammates. He leads Arkansas with 10 assists, and 15 of his passes in two games have generated 29 points.
“He’s just really got a high IQ,” Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said. “He does a great job of reading the defense. He doesn’t try to make any outlandish passes. He reads it, he delivers it, he throws two-handed chest passes.
“I just think it’s kind of natural, and I think he’s way more comfortable with the ball in his hands now than he was last year as a freshman.”
In the 74-61 season-opening win over Mercer last Tuesday, teammates finished 4 of 5 two-point attempts immediately following a Williams pass and 1 of 2 three-point tries. The next day, Musselman hinted that Arkansas may flow more offense through the sophomore on account of both his willingness to share and savvy with the basketball.
The Razorbacks did just that against Gardner-Webb, and he again added five assists. But more impressive were his eight potential assists that produced a team-high 18 points.
Arkansas knocked down 5 of 6 three-point looks off Williams passes, and twice teammates were fouled on a field goal attempt moments after he found them. They made 3 of 4 free throws.
Here is a look at Williams' assist map through the Razorbacks' first two games:
Williams' 10 assists have come in a variety of ways and are composed of six three-pointers, two dunks and two layups. He has found others for scores in the halfcourt off offensive rebounds, out of a postup and in dribble-handoff situations.
Williams, too, sparked the Razorbacks in transition with a football-style outlet pass to Stanley Umude for a dunk in the season opener. He is capable of triggering offense from essentially any spot on the floor.
"I do think he’s more comfortable (handling the ball)," Musselman said. "And for a sophomore...to think that we’re already trying to tinker and add some sets and use him more as a passer maybe than we have (in the past) is a credit to how much he’s evolved and how hard he’s worked."
Among SEC players, Williams ranks 10th with an assist rate of 26.9%, according to KenPom data. He is one of three players 6-8 or taller in the top 25 in that category.
And per 40 minutes played, Williams is handing out 7.5 assists, according to CBBAnalytics. That figure places him in the 96th percentile nationally.
"There is probably not a 4- or 5-man in all of college basketball that has 10 assists through two games," Musselman said. "He’s been absolutely incredible (when we've played) through him."