SENIOR DAY: Tulane Honors Men's Basketball's K.J. Lawson
Apr 18, 2020 | Men's Basketball
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the next few months, TulaneGreenWave.com will honor the 35 seniors that had their respective collegiate careers cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic through this SENIOR DAY series. We hope you the fans enjoy this series and remember the seniors from the 2020 graduating class.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, K.J. Lawson, Lawson joined the Tulane men's basketball team as a graduate transfer last summer following two years at the University of Kansas and parts of two seasons at the University of Memphis. He was a highly-productive staple on the court for the Green Wave, starting all 29 games in which he appeared, while averaging 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in an American Athletic Conference-leading 36.2 minutes per game. Tabbed to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll twice during the season, he ranked third on the team in scoring, second in rebounding and compiled four 20-point performances. Lawson handed out at least three assists nine different times and made at least three 3-pointers in seven contests.
Although he was recognized on Senior Day in Tulane's final game of the regular season, Lawson's final season was abbreviated when the American Athletic Conference Championship in Fort Worth, Texas was cancelled.
Today, we honor Lawson in our SENIOR DAY web series.
The season is coming, and K.J. Lawson is hungry to prove a new era is here! #S2P pic.twitter.com/t98UB2pVCU
— Tulane Men's Basketball (@GreenWaveMBB) October 23, 2019
This Sunday is Senior day, our next senior up is K.J. Lawson! #S2P #RollWave pic.twitter.com/Ur9qYDDRSG
— Tulane Men's Basketball (@GreenWaveMBB) March 7, 2020
K.J. LAWSON'S CAREER BIO
2019-20: Tabbed to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll twice (12/2 and 1/13)…Started all 29 games in which he appeared for the Green Wave…Averaged 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in a conference-leading 36.2 minutes per game…Shot 135-for-334 (.404) from the field, 48-for-132 (.364) from outside and 62-for-88 (.705) at the free throw line…Shot nearly 38 percent from 3-point range in conference play which ranked fourth among all players…Scored in double-figures 20 times, led the team in scoring six times and in rebounds 11 times…Had four 20-point performances and handed out at least three assists nine different times…Made at least three 3s in seven games…Tallied 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in his Tulane debut against Southeastern Louisiana (11/6)…Scored a career-high 30 points, made all three 3-point attempts and made 10 consecutive field goals on 10-for-12 shooting in the win over Southern (12/1)…Had 18 points and eight boards against Saint Louis (12/8)…Scored a game-high 22 points in his hometown return against his former team and No. 9 Memphis (12/30)…Posted a monster line including his only double-double of the season with 16 points, 10 rebounds six assists and a career-high six steals in the win at Temple (1/11)…Scored 20 points and made four 3s against ECU (2/8)…Dropped 21 points and matched a career-high with five treys in the win at UCF (2/22).
At Kansas (2018-19): Played in 35 of the team’s 36 contests off the bench…Averaged 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per contests…Shot 39-of-86 (.453) overall, 13-of-44 (.295) from 3-point range and 18-of-24 (.750) at the free throw line…Scored a season-high 15 points and made three 3s against West Virginia…Shot 6-of-10 and tallied 13 points against Northeastern in the NCAA Tournament First Round win…Sat out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
At Memphis (2015-17): Played parts of two seasons with the Tigers compiling 42 appearances and 33 starts while averaging 11.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game… As a redshirt freshman, started 31 of 32 games and earned 2017 AAC Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the AAC All-Rookie Team…Averaged 12.3 points and was third in The American with 8.1 rebounds per game…Recorded nine double-doubles…Scored a career-high 28 points against Houston to go with 16 rebounds…Pulled down a career-best 19 rebounds against East Carolina…Recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds against Oklahoma…Received a medical redshirt after playing in 10 games with two starts as a true freshman…Averaged 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds against Tulane.
Before College: Attended Hamilton High School in Memphis… Finished four-year career with 2,227 points…Ranked No. 44 nationally by ESPN.com, No. 54 by Rivals.com and No. 65 by Scout.com…Named to the 2014-15 Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Class AAA All-State Team…Helped lead Hamilton to the 2014-15 TSSAA Class AAA state championship…Named the TSSAA Class AAA State Tournament MVP…Averaged 22.3 points as a senior… Named to the 2012-13 and 2013-14 TSWA Class AAA All-State Teams…Averaged 21.4 points and 12.6 rebounds in 2013-14…Averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 boards in 2011-12.
Facts: Born May 7 in Memphis to Dedra and Keelon Lawson Sr.,...Earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas… Has three brothers: Dedric, Chandler and Johnathan…Dedric plays for the San Antonio Spurs' NBA G-League affiliate and Chandler is a freshman playing at the University of Oregon.
Upcoming Senior Day Spotlight Schedule
April 20– Senior Day on Haydyn Gibson (Women’s Golf)
April 22– Senior Day on Dane Esses (Men’s Tennis)
April 23– Senior Day on Tom Coe (Track and Field)
April 24– Senior Day on Ty Johnson (Baseball)
April 26– Senior Day on Paige Fatland (Track and Field)
April 27– Senior Day on Christina Sisti (Women’s Tennis)
April 28– Senior Day on Stephen Hahn (Sailing)
April 30– Senior Day on Trent Johnson (Baseball)
May 2– Senior Day on Eva Torruella (Beach Volleyball)
May 4– Senior Day on Ewan Moore (Men’s Tennis)
May 6 – Senior Day on Keagan Gillies (Baseball)
May 7 – Senior Day on Mary Catherine Stovall (Track and Field)
May 8 – Senior Day on Tim Ruetzel (Men’s Tennis)
May 10 – Senior Day on Meghan Doyle (Beach Volleyball)
May 12 – Senior Day on Corey Dauphine (Track and Field)
May 13 – Senior Day on Brinton Hoover (Sailing)
May 14 – Senior Day on Skyler Guillot (Track and Field)
May 15 – Senior Day on Tarin Mergener (Beach Volleyball)
May 16 – Senior Day on Robert Price (Baseball)
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