High Expectations for Lawson

Class of 2006 prospect Tywon Lawson is filling the big shoes of Kentucky freshman Rajon Rondo as the point guard for Oak Hill (Va.) Academy this season.

Coach Steve Smith has a lot of confidence that the No. 2 ranked point guard in the class of 2006 can get the job done. Smith also listed five of Lawson’s top schools.

“Ty really likes the ACC, but I know that Michigan is heavily involved,” Smith said. “The schools out of the ACC are Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina State and North Carolina.

“All of these schools have offered him except for North Carolina. He is one of three point guards that Coach Williams is recruiting. Their top guy might be that point guard in Louisiana [D.J. Augustin, the No. 1 point guard in the class of 2006]. I’m not going to say that Ty is going to be a Rajon Rondo, but I would be surprised if there is a better junior point guard than him.”

Smith noted Lawson’s ability to thrive in both an unstructured and structured situation.

“He looked good in our pickup games, but when we did a little scrimmage against some AAU guys from Richmond and Ty had to take over because we weren’t really ready for that, his game went to another level.... He doesn’t make mistakes, can absorb heavy contact and finish and makes free throws and open threes.”

After watching Lawson play over the summer, Rivals.com has this evaluation of Lawson’s game:

A physically strong point guard, Lawson can defend and get the ball into the lane. He has a good feel for getting the ball to his teammates and has a dangerous catch and shoot from behind the three-point line. He has all the tools to step in and run a team on the high major level.