Jaylin Williams enters NBA Draft, will retain eligibility, per report

Jaylin Williams enters NBA Draft, will retain eligibility, per report

A third Auburn player will test the NBA Draft waters this summer.

Senior forward Jaylin Williams is the latest Tigers to declare for the upcoming NBA draft, according to a report by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Williams, who still has a year of eligibility remaining due to the pandemic, intends to retain his eligibility and potentially return to Auburn for a fifth season.

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News of Williams’ decision comes two days after fellow frontcourt starter Johni Broome declared for the draft while leaving open the possibility of returning next season. Starting point guard Wendell Green Jr. previously declared for the draft, though his announcement had a sense of finality to it, as he said he was ready to start his pro career.

Underclassmen have until 11:59 p.m. on May 31 to withdraw from the draft and retain their eligibility.

Williams’ decision to go through the pre-draft process isn’t unheard of for Auburn, as the program has had players test the draft waters in each of the prior two offseasons before returning to the team. Allen Flanigan did so after his sophomore and junior seasons before withdrawing from the draft each time, while backup big man Dylan Cardwell also took advantage of the opportunity to get evaluated by NBA personnel last summer only to return to the Plains for his junior season.

The 6-foot-8 Williams was one of Auburn’s top all-around players this past season and one of four Tigers who averaged double-figure scoring. He finished his senior campaign averaging 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from beyond the arc and 76.7 percent from the free-throw line. He was third on the team in scoring and rebounding while finishing second, behind Green, in assists.

Williams has played in 107 games for Auburn over the last four seasons and was a starting forward as a sophomore and again as a senior (he accepted a backup role as a junior, playing behind Freshman of the Year and 2022 No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith). For his career, Williams averages 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 48.8 percent shooting overall, 33 percent from deep and 74.1 percent from the line in 20.5 minutes per game.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.