Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams crowned NBA Champions
on 2025-06-23 19:07 PM
Fort Smith, AR (KNWA/KFTA) – Greg Scott is the current Springdale Head Men’s Basketball Coach and served as an assistant for Fort Smith Northside’s men’s basketball program from 2010-2019. He had the privilege of coaching both Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams as Grizzlies.
The two played in high school together, each played at Arkansas, and won an NBA Championship together on Sunday as members of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“You know it just shows that dreams do come true, no matter where you’re from, and if you’re willing to put in the work the hours when no one is looking,” Scott said. “You got to be able to do the right things on and off the court, got to be coachable, and anything can happen.”
The two won state championships with the Grizzlies before playing for the Razorbacks and winning a NBA crown. However it’s who the two are off the court that stands out most.
“They’re both high character individuals, they’re very humble and one thing about them is they never forgot who they are and where they came from,” Scott said. “With all their success, they still come back to Fort Smith and do a lot of community projects.”
The two make every effort to give back to the community that helped shape them. According to Scott, the two winning a NBA Championship will only further the example they’ve set.
“Nothing was going to stop them, early hours, late nights, on the weekends, they sacrificed a lot,” Scott said. “If you want it, it can happen, but you have to be able to put in the work and you have to be able to sacrifice a lot of different things in general.”
For Scott who’s watched them grow on every step of the journey, the experience has been surreal.
“I just want to hug them right now, I sent them text messages last night and just told them congratulations, I’m so proud of you,” Scott said. “All the coaches are proud of you, the whole city of fort smith is proud of you, everyone is just so proud of them.”
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(Last updated: 2025-06-23 19:07 PM)