The Jay-Will Drill: Auburn's Williams interns with wheelchair basketball team

AUBURN, Ala. – When the coach of Auburn’s wheelchair basketball team wants his guys to pick up the pace in practice, Robb Taylor knows what to run.

The Jay-Will Drill.

Four possessions up and down the court, a minute on the clock.

“It helps us get into our offense and run our offense quickly,” Taylor said. “I think Coach Pearl does it where it’s four or five passes and then a shot. It’s the same thing with us.”

Taylor named the drill after an Auburn student who interned with the wheelchair team during the fall semester, senior forward Jaylin Williams.

Needing an internship to graduate in kinesiology, Williams emailed Taylor last summer.

“It was nice to have a member of the basketball team want to come and help us out,” Taylor said. “I thought it was going to be good for our guys to see him every morning.”

Williams showed up promptly at 7 a.m. during the fall semester, even on days when he played non-conference games that evening.

“At first it was tough but as the semester went on, it became normal,” Williams said. “It was a great experience. Probably my best semester. I’m close friends with them now.”

“He was always here in the morning to help us out,” Taylor said. “He did a lot of great stuff, helped us out in practice, rebounded and worked with some of the guys individually and in the weight room as well. Really pushed our guys. It was great to have him there.”

Williams’ quiet demeanor served him well during the internship. When he did speak, the wheelchair team listened.

“Once he does start talking, you want to listen because what he has to say is usually pretty spot on,” Taylor said. “They did a better job at times listening to him than they would to me. That was nice. He’s got the experience of playing on the men’s team and being part of an SEC championship last year that he’s been able to bring some of that to our program.”

Williams appreciated the effort the wheelchair athletes expend.

“They play hard,” he said. “No handouts. Very intense. They train just like the rest of us. They’re athletes just like anyone else in the world.”

Williams’ internship ended in December when the fall semester concluded and SEC play began. Though he’s no longer “Coach Williams,” he still tracks the wheelchair team’s progress via Instagram.

Williams has played key roles in two Auburn basketball teams this season, helping his team win 20 games by ranking second in rebounds and assists, and third in scoring, while also making a lasting impression on the wheelchair team.

In addition to coaching Auburn’s wheelchair team, Taylor serves as head coach of the U.S. Paralympic Team, taking information gleaned from Jaylin Williams and the Auburn Tigers with him to Paris next summer in pursuit of a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games.

“There are guys on the U.S. team who know the Jay-Will Drill and a little bit of the history behind it,” Taylor said. “It’s a way for Auburn wheelchair basketball to get up to that next level and what Jaylin’s been able to do for us.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer