Draft Notes: J. Williams, Ingram, Baugh, Grandison

Arkansas forward/center Jaylin Williams has decided to remain in the draft, making his announcement on Twitter. The sophomore opted to test the draft waters in early April, but didn’t sign with an agent to give himself the option of returning to school.

“From a very young age my dream was always to play in the NBA,” Williams wrote. “That said, after careful consideration and many talks with my family, I have decided to forgo my remaining NCAA eligibility and pursue my lifetime goal of competing in the NBA.”

Williams was an All-SEC selection after averaging 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 37 games. Williams participated in this month’s Draft Combine in Chicago, and performed so well on the first day that he sat out the second day of scrimmages, according to Bob Holt of Whole Hog Sports. Holt adds that Williams has been conducting workouts for NBA teams, including the Hawks and Hornets.

Projected as a second-round pick, Williams is 42nd on ESPN’s big board, which ranks him as the sixth-best center prospect in the draft.

“Jaylin had a really good two years, and all of us are very happy for him and wish him the best of luck,” Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said in a text message to Holt.

A few more early entrants have reached their draft decisions ahead of the June 1 deadline to maintain their college eligibility if they withdraw:

• Pac 12 Freshman of the Year Harrison Ingram will take his name out of the draft and return to Stanford for another season, tweets Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. A 6’7″ forward, Ingram averaged 10.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in his first collegiate season. He is ranked 73rd by ESPN and would have been a marginal prospect if he had remained in the draft.
• Damion Baugh will return to TCU for another season, according to Rothstein (Twitter link). The junior guard was the Horned Frogs’ second-leading scorer this year at 10.6 PPG after playing his first two seasons at Memphis.
• Jacob Grandison of Illinois will also pull out of the draft and will return to college for a fifth season, tweets Rothstein. The 24-year-old guard averaged 9.6 PPG this year.