Arkansas Razorback basketball has firmly entered a new era since John Calipari arrived in 2024, and now that the Hogs are fresh off the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, even former NBA champions are taking note.
5-star recruits Abdou Toure and JJ Andrews have been hooping together in Fayetteville on a regular basis over the summer, giving fans a preview of what to expect when the college basketball season kicks off later this fall. It seems the pair has caught the eye of a former Arkansas Razorback star, who linked up with them earlier this week at the University of Arkansas' basketball facilities.
Jaylin Williams Meets Up With Abdou Toure, JJ Andrews
Oklahoma City Thunder power forward/center Jaylin Williams is a familiar face to Razorback fans. His presence was a major factor on the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Arkansas Razorbacks, helping the Hogs reach back-to-back Elite Eights for the first time since 1995, and between his infectious smile and All-SEC accolades, it's fair to see that Williams was the face of those teams.
Nowadays, Jaylin Williams is using his NBA experience — including an NBA Championship as part of the 2024-25 OKC squad — to help elevate the next generation of Razorbacks.
Jaylin Williams was seen in the Arkansas Basketball facilities earlier this week alongside incoming 5-star freshmen Abdou Toure and JJ Andrews, both of whom expect to get major minutes for the Hogs this fall. While no video footage of their practice has been made public, it's great to see them getting work in with a player of his caliber.
Former Razorback Jaylin Williams is back in Fayetteville, chillin’ with Arkansas freshman Abdou Toure inside the basketball performance center.
— Grayson Pierce (@GraysonPierce4) July 7, 2026
(Via toure_3_6/IG, H/T @ARHoopScoop) | #WPS pic.twitter.com/P7UmbNnfqN
Toure and Andrews are arriving in Fayetteville with major expectations, and spending time around a former Razorback who successfully made the jump from college standout to NBA contributor can only help their development.
A product of Fort Smith Northside, Jaylin Williams is no stranger to Arkansas basketball, so seeing him play a role in the John Calipari era feels like a good omen for the future of the program. It wasn't long ago that the University of Arkansas struggled to bring in the state's highest-rated recruits, but that seems like a distant memory now that pro Hogs like Williams and a recruiter of Calipari's caliber are representing the program.
Good Times meeting @Jay_MWilliams_ today 🐗 pic.twitter.com/UmU8NeSBU6
— JaShawn “JJ” Andrews (@JJAndrews2026) July 7, 2026
Hopefully, Abdoue Toure and JJ Andrews can draw on their experience with players like Williams to help Arkansas break through the barrier and reach the Final Four after making the Sweet Sixteen five out of the last six seasons. They'll be joined by fellow 5-star recruits Jordan Smith Jr. and Miikka Muurinen, as well as incoming transfers such as Georgia's highest-scoring player a year ago, PG Jeremiah Wilkinson.
There is still a long way to go before Arkansas' talented freshman class proves itself in live SEC games, but moments like Toure and Andrews' link-up with Jaylin Williams are an encouraging step in the right direction.
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