Tywon Lawson

Tywon Ronell Lawson, or Ty Lawson, is a professional basketball player from the United States of America and plays as a point guard. Ty went to the Bishop McNamara High School in 2003-04 and would, in 2004, get a transfer to the Oak Hill Academy. It was here that Ty set his mark on high school basketball when he was named to the USA Today All-American First Team. Lawson also played in the McDonald’s All-American Game as well as the Jordan Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit.

Averaging 23.8 points per game with 9.1 assists and 5 steals in his senior year, it came as no surprise when he chose to attend the University of North Carolina to be a part of the Tar Heels. In 2006-07, his freshman year, Lawson led the Tar Heels with 5.6 assists per game and was placed fourth with 10.2 points per game. He helped the team share the Atlantic Coast Conference championship title and led them to the ACC Tournament title as well.

The following year, Lawson scored at 127 points per game with 5.3 assists however, his season was marred by an ankle injury that kept him out for long periods. Despite repeated recurrences of the injury, Lawson would still return to take his team to a repeat of the previous year’s ACC performances as well as to a place in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

Despite declaring for the 2008 NBA Draft, Lawson decided to withdraw his candidature and return to college for his junior year. Lawson was named to the All-ACC First Team and was also named as the ACC Player of the Year for the season as he became the first point guard to win the award since Phil Ford, also a Tar Heel, in 1978.

Lawson was also named as a consensus Second Team All-American and won the Bob Cousy Award meant for the best collegiate point guard. Lawson also led the Tar Heels to the NCAA title that year, one of the main reasons behind his awards for that season.

Lawson decided to forego his final year in college and declared for the 2009 NBA Draft where he was picked at 18th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lawson was traded out, on the same day, to the Denver Nuggets.