We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a series on some players who have attended events over the past few years but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at Umar Lawson of Laurence Manning.
We’ve seen Lawson take numerous strides within his progression, including at our most recent South Carolina Top 80, where we stated, “Next, we look at a player that continues to impress and show flashes of two-way dominance, Umar Lawson. He’s a long, explosive, team-first guard prospect with an elite motor and quality feel on both ends of the floor. Lawson is undeniably rugged and shows a consistent willingness to get his hands dirty, fighting for rebounds/extra possessions, defending the best opposing perimeter player, and simply outworking anyone in his path. Offensively, Lawson is an excellent penetrator that can play above the rim or finish through any amount of contact, but also displays the necessary vision to make smart passes to open teammates. He’s a capable perimeter shooter with nice cutting instincts and the ability to make an impact without requiring offensive touches. Lawson was easily among the best rebounders for his position and was able to contain a variety of different opponents on defense, given his blend of length, strength, and positioning. Next in his development process is working on the use of his off-hand, as it would make him an even tougher finisher around the basket. Coach Staley on Lawson: “Umar is a great athlete that is very explosive. He’s very difficult to guard when going to his dominant hand. With continued development, he will be an exceptional combo. He maintained a positive attitude and accepted coaching well throughout the day.” Lawson didn’t do all the “sexy” things but still shined very bright during camp and will have the attention of college coaches sooner or later, especially given the likelihood of a breakout upcoming season.”
Between his strength, toughness, and pure explosion, it’s easy to see what makes everyone so excited about Lawson. He displays the makings of a workable jumper and continues to become more consistent from the perimeter with each passing day. Lawson is nearly unstoppable at getting downhill and finishing through any amount of contact, especially when going left. He’s a destructive defender with great anticipation and rebounding instincts, which allows him to get out in transition and make an abundance of plays. Lawson’s stock should continue to steadily rise, especially going into his senior season.