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Prospect Profile: Ty Lawson

by Ricky Henne, nyknicks.com


Posted Jun 8 2009, 5:00 p.m.

Jun 8 2009 3:28PM
  • Draft Central

    In the days leading up to the NBA Draft, NYKnicks.com will look at the top-rated players potentially available to teams with lottery picks in the 2009 NBA Draft. We offer these profiles for fans to familiarize themselves with some of the biggest names in the draft. A player's inclusion in this series of articles is based purely on his rankings in the scouting services and mainstream media and does not necessarily reflect the Knicks organization's preferences for the June 25 Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

    We continue our series with a profile of UNC point guard Ty Lawson, a consensus first-round pick according to major scouting services and numerous publications.

  • Photo Gallery: Ty Lawson

    In a draft rich with point guard prospects, only one can lay claim to being the best in the nation.

    That man is Ty Lawson, winner of the 2009 Bob Cousy Award, “given to the top collegiate male basketball point guard annually spanning across all divisions within the game by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.” Past winners include Jameer Nelson, DJ Augustin, Raymond Felton, Acie Law and Dee Brown.

    While the Tar Heels star averaged an impressive 16.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals as a junior, NBA scouts also take note of the way Lawson guided UNC to an NCAA Championship this season.

    A natural leader, the Tar Heels rallied around Lawson after he returned from a toe injury in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Showing tremendous heart by taking to the court far less than 100-percent healthy, he was arguably the best player throughout the entire tournament, including a dominant performance in the finals against Michigan State when he recorded a game-high 21 points, six assists, four rebounds and a whopping eight steals.

    Lawson is a pass first point guard who excels in an up-tempo system. Lightning quick, he penetrates defenses with the greatest of ease before dishing to his teammates. He is also a strong finisher at the basket and is superb on defense, racking up the steals.

    The biggest knock on Lawson is his injury-riddled history and short stature, which is listed at just over six-feet. Furthermore, while he is excellent at dissecting the defense and finding the open man, he struggles with his own shot. Still, he boasts a 53.2 shooting percentage from the field, and is a good three-point shooter, connecting at a 47.2-percent clip from downtown.

    Drawing comparisons to Felton, another former Tar Heel point guard on the small side, Lawson has been one of the hardest prospects to project come draft night. Some say he will be a surefire lottery pick while others say he may slip to mid-to-late first round. No matter where he goes, however, all agree that the team drafting him will get a heady, athletic player with a strong will to win.

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