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Because of his seven-foot wingspan, six-foot-six-inch Quincy Lawson is one of the most versatile players in the section
Commitment to defense by Panthers star has led to team success
Vista senior Quincy Lawson is well-rounded – both on and off the court. Lawson’s favorite hobbies include motorcycle riding and playing the drums.
“People don’t know that I was in the drumline at Vista for a while,” Lawson said.
Most people though, are aware of Lawson’s ability on the court. He is second in the section in scoring, averaging 23.6 points per game.
This season, Lawson has done more than just fill up the scorebooks. He has become a defensive force, averaging 4.5 blocks per game and helping Vista allow only 53.3 points per game.
“He changes so many shots. People drive in the lane and shoot a little bit differently because they don’t want to get their shot blocked,” said Vista head coach Charlie Mercado. “He gets about four or five blocks per game but he changes 10 to 12 shots per game.”
Lawson said his favorite things about the game are blocks and dunks. And although he produces video game-like material on the hardwood, Lawson didn’t get his moves from the latest copy of NBA Live or NBA 2K9.
“I don’t play video games,” Lawson said. “I just don’t like them, I don’t know why.”
Lawson’s commitment to defense has helped Vista become a top-10 team following a 10-17 year. The Panthers are 18-5 overall this season and currently ranked No. 6 in the section.
“He’s definitely picked it up on both ends,” Mercado said. “Last year he was all offense and this year he’s putting effort into both. He’s a big factor on both ends of the floor.” Lawson said his mindset this season differs from last year.
“Last year I wanted to score and get points; this year it’s all about the team,” Lawson said. “Whatever I need to do for the team to win, that’s what I want to do – anything so we can win.”
Despite his size and athleticism, Lawson was not considered an elite college prospect until earlier this season. He dazzled scouts on an AAU team that finished runner-up at the Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Classic in Los Angeles in September. ESPN gave Lawson an 88 grade and has him rated as the country’s 55th-best shooting guard.
“I don’t know what happened,” Lawson said about the tournament. “I realized I needed to start working hard so I could get looked at and needed to pick it up, so I did. I was determined to win that tournament, too.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4eGzYicljE
Lawson blocks the shot of Mission Hills forward Jeremy Ford on Jan. 16
Lawson plans on playing college basketball next season and is considering UC Riverside, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Cal Poly, San Diego, and Boise State. He is also looking at UCSB for track.
In spite of the fact that he is a Division I talent, Lawson knows there are certain aspects of his game that he needs to improve. “Dribbling,” Lawson said. “I can always work on my shooting and I need to get stronger.”
Lawson plays every position for Vista, and he could play either shooting guard, small forward or power forward at the next level. Lawson’s scoring ability allows him to play either position and although undersized as a traditional four, Lawson’s near seven-foot wingspan enables him to guard taller players.
“On defense we switch on pretty much all screens,” Mercado said, “so he’s guarding little guys, he’s guarding big guys and he never had a problem doing that.”
Mercado said he is optimistic about Lawson’s chances in the collegiate ranks.
“Quincy is so athletic that wherever he ends up next year, they are going to develop him and he is going to go to a whole other level,” Mercado said. “At the college level they are able to spend more time on putting weight on and getting quicker and faster; we don’t have those kind of resources here.”
Being recruited can be a tricky process for a high school senior. Luckily for Quincy Lawson, his older brother Kenny Lawson Jr. is a sophomore center in his third year at Creighton, and can lend some advice to his younger sibling.
“He’ll tell me what I need to do to get better and be recruited,” Lawson said. “It’s good. I like it because I know what to look forward to. Stuff he’s going through, I know I’m going to have to deal with it.”
Lawson has three brothers – all older. Although he wouldn’t speculate as to which of the four was the better basketball player, Lawson did say which one got beat up the most.
“They never gave me a break. They’d always go hard against me and I’d always get really mad,” Lawson said. “I couldn’t do anything about it because I was really small back then.”
Although past brotherly rivalry may fuel his on-court intensity, off the court Lawson likes to have fun.
“He’s a character sometimes,” Mercado said.
“For Halloween he dressed up as Lil Wayne – he comes in with the dreads on,” Mercado said. “He spent all night the night before putting tattoos all over him.”
Lawson tries to keep the mood light during practices. He recalls poking fun at his head coach during an off-season workout.
“Coach was saying we were never on the same page or anything,” Lawson said. “And I said, ‘When you lost your cell phone in Vegas, we were all on the same page because we were laughing at you.’”
All laughs aside, Lawson is one of the best players in the section. And his coach said that the sky is the limit for the star forward.
“Once he gets that – realizes what he possesses – he definitely has another level he can get to,” Mercado said.
7 Questions with Quincy Lawson
Sports Team Lakers, Kobe
Music Rap, Lil Wayne
Restaurant Claim Jumper: “I’m going there today”
Saying “Do Work”
Nickname “People just call me Lawson”
TV Show The Boondocks
Subject “I’m going to go with English”
Because of his seven-foot wingspan, six-foot-six-inch Quincy Lawson is one of the most versatile players in the section
Commitment to defense by Panthers star has led to team success
Vista senior Quincy Lawson is well-rounded – both on and off the court. Lawson’s favorite hobbies include motorcycle riding and playing the drums.
“People don’t know that I was in the drumline at Vista for a while,” Lawson said.
Most people though, are aware of Lawson’s ability on the court. He is second in the section in scoring, averaging 23.6 points per game.
This season, Lawson has done more than just fill up the scorebooks. He has become a defensive force, averaging 4.5 blocks per game and helping Vista allow only 53.3 points per game.
“He changes so many shots. People drive in the lane and shoot a little bit differently because they don’t want to get their shot blocked,” said Vista head coach Charlie Mercado. “He gets about four or five blocks per game but he changes 10 to 12 shots per game.”
Lawson said his favorite things about the game are blocks and dunks. And although he produces video game-like material on the hardwood, Lawson didn’t get his moves from the latest copy of NBA Live or NBA 2K9.
“I don’t play video games,” Lawson said. “I just don’t like them, I don’t know why.”
Lawson’s commitment to defense has helped Vista become a top-10 team following a 10-17 year. The Panthers are 18-5 overall this season and currently ranked No. 6 in the section.
“He’s definitely picked it up on both ends,” Mercado said. “Last year he was all offense and this year he’s putting effort into both. He’s a big factor on both ends of the floor.” Lawson said his mindset this season differs from last year.
“Last year I wanted to score and get points; this year it’s all about the team,” Lawson said. “Whatever I need to do for the team to win, that’s what I want to do – anything so we can win.”
Despite his size and athleticism, Lawson was not considered an elite college prospect until earlier this season. He dazzled scouts on an AAU team that finished runner-up at the Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Classic in Los Angeles in September. ESPN gave Lawson an 88 grade and has him rated as the country’s 55th-best shooting guard.
“I don’t know what happened,” Lawson said about the tournament. “I realized I needed to start working hard so I could get looked at and needed to pick it up, so I did. I was determined to win that tournament, too.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4eGzYicljE
Lawson blocks the shot of Mission Hills forward Jeremy Ford on Jan. 16
Lawson plans on playing college basketball next season and is considering UC Riverside, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Cal Poly, San Diego, and Boise State. He is also looking at UCSB for track.
In spite of the fact that he is a Division I talent, Lawson knows there are certain aspects of his game that he needs to improve. “Dribbling,” Lawson said. “I can always work on my shooting and I need to get stronger.”
Lawson plays every position for Vista, and he could play either shooting guard, small forward or power forward at the next level. Lawson’s scoring ability allows him to play either position and although undersized as a traditional four, Lawson’s near seven-foot wingspan enables him to guard taller players.
“On defense we switch on pretty much all screens,” Mercado said, “so he’s guarding little guys, he’s guarding big guys and he never had a problem doing that.”
Mercado said he is optimistic about Lawson’s chances in the collegiate ranks.
“Quincy is so athletic that wherever he ends up next year, they are going to develop him and he is going to go to a whole other level,” Mercado said. “At the college level they are able to spend more time on putting weight on and getting quicker and faster; we don’t have those kind of resources here.”
Being recruited can be a tricky process for a high school senior. Luckily for Quincy Lawson, his older brother Kenny Lawson Jr. is a sophomore center in his third year at Creighton, and can lend some advice to his younger sibling.
“He’ll tell me what I need to do to get better and be recruited,” Lawson said. “It’s good. I like it because I know what to look forward to. Stuff he’s going through, I know I’m going to have to deal with it.”
Lawson has three brothers – all older. Although he wouldn’t speculate as to which of the four was the better basketball player, Lawson did say which one got beat up the most.
“They never gave me a break. They’d always go hard against me and I’d always get really mad,” Lawson said. “I couldn’t do anything about it because I was really small back then.”
Although past brotherly rivalry may fuel his on-court intensity, off the court Lawson likes to have fun.
“He’s a character sometimes,” Mercado said.
“For Halloween he dressed up as Lil Wayne – he comes in with the dreads on,” Mercado said. “He spent all night the night before putting tattoos all over him.”
Lawson tries to keep the mood light during practices. He recalls poking fun at his head coach during an off-season workout.
“Coach was saying we were never on the same page or anything,” Lawson said. “And I said, ‘When you lost your cell phone in Vegas, we were all on the same page because we were laughing at you.’”
All laughs aside, Lawson is one of the best players in the section. And his coach said that the sky is the limit for the star forward.
“Once he gets that – realizes what he possesses – he definitely has another level he can get to,” Mercado said.
7 Questions with Quincy Lawson
Sports Team Lakers, Kobe
Music Rap, Lil Wayne
Restaurant Claim Jumper: “I’m going there today”
Saying “Do Work”
Nickname “People just call me Lawson”
TV Show The Boondocks
Subject “I’m going to go with English”