When Columbia was first introduced to A.J. Lawson, Yusuf English was there to track his numbers.
Lawson was a rising freshman at USC when he averaged over 17 points, six rebounds and two assists during the South Carolina Pro-Am in July. English was the court-side statistician that week at Heathwood High School. He saw up-close Lawson’s blend of skill and athleticism and isn’t surprised that it’s transitioned nicely through the first month of Lawson’s Gamecock career.
But English is also the head coach at Hartsville. When he watched Lawson in the summer of 2018, he tried picturing the 6-foot-7 guard in the winter of 2020.