AJ Lawson’s decision looms. A draft expert weighs in on USC star as a pro prospect
The top looming question for South Carolina’s basketball program comes down to one player: A.J. Lawson.
Does he leave for the professional ranks? Does he test the draft waters, just as he did a year ago? Or in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic shutting down much of the pre-draft process, does he not test the waters at all?
Key in those questions are two key factors: what kind of a draft prospect Lawson is, and how much he wants to be move on to a professional career in some form. The latter can only be answered by him, and he hasn’t spoken publicly on the topic. To answer the former, The State spoke to ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony, one of the most plugged-in names on the draft front.
“He didn’t really have the year that people were hoping,” Givony said. “Whether it’s realistic or not, I don’t think he took the next step with his development. It doesn’t say that it might not happen later on, still. He’s still 19 years old. He’s incredibly young. But yeah, I don’t think that he took the leap forward that some people projected.”
Lawson first came to the attention of draft folks at a Basketball Without Borders camp in Los Angeles in January of 2018, Givony said. Then a high school junior, he drew some comparisons to NBA players Patrick McCaw or Caris LeVert.
Lawson reclassified to the 2018 class and signed with USC in the spring. He delivered in his first college season, with 13.4 points per game, leading the team in assists as a 6-foot-6 combo guard.
He started appearing in some 2020 mock drafts. Many projected him to take another jump, still being young, to lead the Gamecocks as a sophomore and then make the NBA jump.
Instead his 2019-20 was uneven. He again averaged 13.4 points per game, but his outside shooting slipped and he ceded the point guard role to redshirt freshman Jermaine Couisnard midway through the season.
Givony explained strength is a key factor holding Lawson back, as he’s still 6-foot-6 and 178 pounds.
“He’s got long arms; he’s pretty versatile,” Givony said. “He’s a good shooter. He didn’t shoot the ball incredibly this year, but he’s definitely a shot maker. And I think he’s shown in other settings that versatility that people like about him.
“I just think that physically, he hasn’t made the jump yet. And that lack of strength still affects him in a lot of ways. And that’s probably what’s going to be decisive in him making the next step with his development.”
For a player at his height, Lawson at times had trouble finishing as a driver. He excelled in open floor situations and ended up at 49.4% inside the arc. He was a player the staff often trusted as a big third guard in smaller lineups.
Some players will put their names in the draft simply to start a pro career, even if the chances of getting taken are slim. (Few projections have Lawson getting drafted.) Givony pointed out that’s often an individual decision, figuring out what can be gained from another year in school, or if a player needs to get into the workforce to provide for family.
USC coach Frank Martin on March 23 indicated that planned to speak soon to Lawson and his family about their plans.
The current coronavirus pandemic has thrown much of the draft process into flux, as the traditional workouts, combine and scouting events are all either canceled or very much in doubt. And that could be an issue for Lawson, who would likely need to make an impression in that setting to hear his name called.
“It affects everybody equally the same,” Givony said. “Not being able to get out and tell people that you’re something different than what your film says you are. It’s not great for a guy who’s not really on the radar to be drafted right now. So how does he go out and change the perceptions that people have about him? It’s not easy for sure.”
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 5:37 PM.
