At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from the Carolinas went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today's edition will highlight'Lawton Fulford of Myrtle Beach Christian Academy.
We've seen Fulford an abundance of times throughout his high school career, including at our most recent Top 80, where we stated, 'Continuing onto a player that always seems to make his presence felt as a glue-guy, regardless of setting or surrounding teammates, Lawton Fulford. He's a smart, unselfish guard prospect with the necessary skillset to adapt and thrive within various different roles. Fulford is a reliable shooter, passer, ball-handler, and defender with great off-ball instincts. He consistently makes the right play and shows a willingness to set up others whenever possible. Next in his development process is working to get quicker, as it would make him an even better on-ball defender. Coach English on Fulford: 'Lawton is a very crafty player and one of the better shooters here at camp. He has a very high IQ and can shoot the three-pointer with consistency. Lawton does an amazing job of creating space for himself to get off his shot. He plays good defense off the ball and is very coachable. Lawton is a quality communicator and was a complete pleasure to coach.' Fulford proved to be a definite asset for his team during camp and should continue to gain traction with college coaches throughout his upcoming senior campaign.'
Everything stated above only continued to remain true over his senior season, where Fulford showed a unique emphasis on making the smartest possible play and largely disregarding individual scoring. Last season, he posted nightly averages of 9.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 3.4 SPG while leading the team in numerous ratios and statistical categories. While those numbers might not seem crazy, it's worth noting their team success and the amount of talent within their current roster. It takes a different type of player to accept and embrace that kind of selfless role, which is just another reason Fulford should have opportunities at the next level.