COLOMBIA – The process lasted more than three months and had a false start, but the decision that was always expected has never changed.
AJ Lawson will return to South Carolina for his junior season.
“I am happy to announce that I am withdrawing my name from the NBA draft and going back to school for my junior season as Gamecock!” Lawson tweeted on Wednesday. “I want to thank all the teams that have given me the opportunity to speak with them in the past few months, and I am excited to be back in Colombia and ready to work in the season that is just beginning!”
Lawson’s official return reinforces an experienced and talented guard team and returns the Gamecocks top scorer to a team that should have a great chance of making the NCAA Tournament. The USC lost the main rebound and third top scorer Maik Kotsar for graduation and fifth top scorer Jair Bolden to transfer (Butler), but almost everyone else returns from an 18-13 team.
As he did after a stellar freshman season, Lawson decided to test the NBA’s waters. He declared on April 26, while the NBA draft process was still trying to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, and when the deadline for making a final decision was extended to August 3, he continued to seize the opportunity.
In his hometown of Toronto, Lawson, like the rest of the recruiting class, was barred from working for the teams, but he was able to interview and communicate with NBA officials. A report by college basketball insider Jon Rothstein on June 15 made Lawson decide to return to the USC, but coach Frank Martin told the Post and Courier that the report was not accurate and his situation had not changed.
Still, Lawson was always expected to return after a year that started with some mentions of a selection in the first round, but did not go as planned. Lawson did not play badly; their numbers were right in their first-year totals.
But there seemed to be something missing throughout the year, even when Lawson scored double digits in 23 games and at least 20 points in six. His percentage of 3 points fell along with his assists and his personal fouls increased.
There were no projections that still had Lawson as a safe choice in the draft, but as he had nothing to lose by trying, he continued to use the draft process and see where he was. He was forced to quarantine with relatives at neighboring Summerton when he arrived from Toronto, but soon joined the rest of the Gamecocks for off-season training.
Now it’s official. Lawson is back and the Gamecocks will enter a year with high expectations. The program has not made it to the NCAA Tournament since his magical run to the 2017 Final Four, Coach Frank Martin’s only participation in tournaments in his eight years at USC.
Gamecocks will need to find an impact player in the painting, but their abundance of guards can cause serious matchup problems. Lawson, capable of throwing the ball away with Jermaine Couisnard taking advantage of the playmaker, can combine with Justin Minaya, Trae Hannibal and Keyshawn Bryant in a relentless offensive push-the-ball attack. USC also transferred Seventh Woods to North Carolina, eligible for his final year of college.
Cooper joins Gamecocks
Martin also announced the addition of the second year of Ford Cooper Jr. to the list. Charlotte-born Cooper played for Missouri State last year.
He will walk for the team. As a transfer, he will not be able to play this year.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.