A.J. Lawson

Updated as of 7/31/2021, scouting report written by Alan Lu.
2021 rankings were finalized on 7/29/21.

Height: 6-7
Weight: 179
College: South Carolina
Classification: Junior
Birthdate: 7/15/2000

2021 Top 100 Prospect Rank: 73
Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted

Pros:

Decent shooter
Adequate scorer off the dribble
Excels at scoring on off-ball motion plays
Decent playmaker
Decent defender that can get steals
Very good athlete

Cons:

Inconsistent shooter
Prone to hoisting up questionable shots
Can tend to force the issue too much on offense
Needs to improve his rebounding
Tends to gamble too much defensively
Can be too inconsistent in games

Summary:

A.J. Lawson is a very athletic swingman that has a versatile skill set that may intrigue NBA teams.  He excels at attacking the basket to get scores, and he also has the court vision to pick up assists.  He also is an adequate defender that can get steals and deflections on the court.​

On the downside, he will need to improve his jump shot, shot selection, and he can be turnover prone on offense.  Lawson is a talented player that can play multiple positions, but he can be too inconsistent in games.  Currently, he projects to be a second round prospect for the 2021 draft.

Links:

RealGM Profile
ESPN Draft Profile
NBADraft.Net Profile
wrdw.com’s Article on Lawson Returning to South Carolina
NBA G-League’s 2021 G-League Elite Camp​

Games Scouted:
9/30/17 GTA Prep vs. Mississauga Prep
1/18/19 South Carolina vs. Mississippi State
7/3/19 Canada vs. Senegal
11/26/19 South Carolina vs. Wichita State
2/12/20 South Carolina vs. Georgia
2/26/20 South Carolina vs. Georgia
3/2/21 South Carolina vs. Arkansas
6/20/21 G-League Elite Camp
6/21/21 G-League Elite Camp
6/25/21 The 2021 NBA Draft Combine

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