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Jaylin Williams Is Already A Key Piece For The Oklahoma City Thunder

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Jaylin Williams Is Already A Key Piece For The Oklahoma City Thunder


Regardless of not being within the prime 25 in any main statistical class, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder rookie Jaylin Williams was maybe the stand-out participant of the 2022/23 G-League Showcase Cup.

Seasons within the G-League are at the moment divided into what is basically three components – the opening Showcase Cup, the primary common season, after which the postseason. The Showcase Cup is basically a mini-league, with groups splitting into 4 divisions (referred to as “pods” for no matter purpose) and taking part in an 18-game schedule, earlier than a single-game elimination event to finish it.

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In that Cup, the Thunder’s G-League affiliate, the Oklahoma Metropolis Blue, featured the assigned Williams 11 instances. And in these video games, plus one common season look to this point, he averaged 14.7 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.

Extra spectacular nonetheless have been the effectivity metrics on which he did this. Williams shot 62.7% from the sphere, together with 36.0% from three-point vary on two makes an attempt per sport, and added 72.7% capturing from the free throw line for a staggering .755 true capturing proportion. For a focal offensive participant to attain that effectively is eye-catching; for such an vital playmaker to additionally common that many assists alongside solely 2.3 turnovers per sport is doubly so. Particularly contemplating these have been among the first skilled basketball video games of his profession.

The previous tense is used above as a result of, in fact, Williams is not with the Blue. Even after solely twelve video games, it was clear he had outgrown it.

Since being recalled for the final time on twenty eighth December, he has as a substitute been with the massive league crew, and his season splits inform an identical story there too. In 21.5 minutes of 12 February video games, Williams has averaged 7.9 factors, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per sport on a fair 50.0% capturing, flanked by a mighty 51.7% from three-point vary, from the place he has shot extra frequently than two-point vary.

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Suffice it to say that already, in solely the primary three months of his professional profession, he has proven a whole lot of weapons, and tantalising versatility.

Drafted thirty fourth within the 2022 NBA Draft out of Arkansas, Williams has an innate bundle of fingers, contact, timing, positioning, consciousness, endurance and decision-making that’s extremely superior in a 20-year-old. He’ll display, can roll, passes off of these rolls, and appears to have an innate chemistry with opposing ball-handlers even when he has by no means performed with them earlier than. And it additionally seems he can shoot from vary.

What prevented Williams from being a first-round expertise was an absence of top-tier athleticism, mixed with not being the strongest or most bodily of gamers, resulting in questions on the place he would play defensively. That, and the truth that for all his dribble hand-off mastery, superior handles for his top and fixed movement out on the perimeter, he couldn’t (and wouldn’t) frequently shoot from there.

The latter of those, although, appears to already be getting remedied. And as for the defensive prognosis, the nice fingers and consciousness come into play there, too.

A lot because the Thunder proceed to languish close to the cellar of the NBA – third-last within the concertina of a Western Convention regardless of solely simply having a below-.500 report – they don’t determine to be there for for much longer. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already ascended to the All-Star tier, dragging his crew up with him, and triple-double machine Josh Giddey shouldn’t be far behind him. The seasons of stockpiling younger gamers and belongings has led to the creation of a powerful core of gamers who’re rising collectively, and with Chet Holmgren set to return subsequent season, the Thunder could possibly be primed for a giant leap ahead.

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In the event that they do certainly make one, then Jaylin Williams might be part of it, not a passenger. He has performed his approach into the rotation in brief order, by no means appears to have a nasty sport, and has a bundle of abilities that aren’t straightforward to search out on the massive man spots. Maybe he by no means might be a plus-NBA defender in his profession. However then, since when has everybody needed to be?



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Staff predictions: Our picks for No. 7 Alabama at Oklahoma

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Staff predictions: Our picks for No. 7 Alabama at Oklahoma


After falling twice away from home already this season, No. 7 Alabama will look to avoid a potential trap game in its final road trip of the regular season. The Crimson Tide (8-2, 5-2 in the SEC) will visit Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5) for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff Saturday inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

This will be the seventh matchup between Alabama and Oklahoma. The Sooners hold a 3-2-1 advantage in the series, but the Tide won the most recent meeting, recording a 45-34 victory in the 2018 Orange Bowl. Alabama is currently a 14-point favorite for Saturday’s game, according to the Caesars Sportsbook.

Here’s how Tide Illustrated’s staff thinks the game will play out.



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Oklahoma State Offers 2026 Bixby DB Braeden Presley

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Oklahoma State Offers 2026 Bixby DB Braeden Presley


The stark reality of the Cowboys future on the gridiron is up in the air.  Can Oklahoma State bounce back in 2025 following one of the worst football seasons in years?  Will the Pokes return next season and play with a chip on their shoulder?  Only time will tell and the best way to improve the football team is for the coaching staff to hit the recruiting trail hard.

Oklahoma State will say goodbye to one of the greatest statistical wide receivers to ever wear the Cowboy orange.  Senior Brennan Presley has been the cornerstone of the receiving core for the past four seasons.  He is the all-time receptions leader in Oklahoma State history and has caught more than two passes in nearly every game since his sophomore season.

The offense won’t be the same in 2025 with Presley snagging catches across the middle, but the fans of Cowboy football won’t have to wait long as a familiar name will be entering the mix straight out of the class of 2026.

On Thursday, Oklahoma State looked to make it the Presley trifecta when they offered the youngest of the bunch, 2026 Bixby star Braeden Presley.  Older brothers Brennan and Braylin both committed to Oklahoma State out of high school.  Brennan hung around to become the all-time receptions leader in school history while Braylin transferred to Tulsa.

Braeden is the biggest brother of the bunch and measures in at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, according to 247Sports.  He is unranked at the moment but still has a full season of football yet to play.  The interest continues to grow for Braeden who has drawn offers from Tulsa, Boston College and Kansas.

Oklahoma State joined the mix on Thursday and is hoping to use its family ties to lock up their third straight Presley.  Little is known about Presley on the field, and he has proven this season that he is a jack of all trades.  He has logged a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and passing touchdown this season for the Spartans of Bixby.

A majority of his highlights have come on the defensive side of the football.  He has 27 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 2024 for a Bixby team who is searching for yet another Class 5A State Championship.

The fans of Oklahoma State football may not have to wait very long to have a Presley once again under the lights of Boone Pickens Stadium.

Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.





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Miami Basketball: Canes drop second straight game to Oklahoma State 80-74

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Miami Basketball: Canes drop second straight game to Oklahoma State 80-74


CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1), 80-74, Friday afternoon at TD Arena in the Hurricanes’ (3-2) second game of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.

Down 17 with five minutes to play in the game, the Hurricanes connected on seven of their final ten shots to pull to within six of the Cowboys, but time ultimately ran out on Miami’s comeback.

Guard Nijel Pack recorded his second 20-point game of the season, totaling 20 points to lead the Hurricanes in scoring.

Forward Brandon Johnson tallied his first double-double of the season with 12 points and ten rebounds, pacing the Hurricanes’ on the glass.

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Oklahoma State took control early, opening the game on a 9-0 run. Miami cut the lead to three thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Blackmon and Pack, but the Cowboys responded with a 7-0 run to extend their lead to double-digits, 20-10, with 10 minutes to play in the first half.

The Cowboys shot 53.3 percent from 3-point range in the first half, increasing their lead to 16, 43-37, at the halftime break.

Oklahoma State took its largest lead of the game, 51-31, at the 14:35 mark in the second half, but Miami responded with an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 13 at the midway point of the frame.

The Hurricanes shot 58.1 percent from the field in the second half, and four Miami players scored eight-plus points in the final 20 minutes of play, but they could not complete the comeback.

On Sunday, Miami will play VCU or Nevada at 12:30 p.m. ET at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C.

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Courtesy of Miami Athletics



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