South Carolina basketball: AJ Lawson declares for the NBA Draft

South Carolina basketball will be without its leading scorer from last year.

AJ Lawson, the Gamecocks’ leading scorer in each of the past three seasons, declared for the NBA Draft late Monday night, meaning his career with the South Carolina basketball program is officially finished. The junior guard made his decision known on social media, with a post thanking head coach Frank Martin and the university.

Lawson arrived to the program as a freshman three seasons ago, after reclassifying to the class of 2018. In that first year, he started 28 of the 29 games he played in, scoring 13.4 points per contest on his way to all-conference recognition. After that inaugural season, Lawson began to pick up some steam as a professional prospect, landing in some 2019 mock drafts. He chose to go through the draft process to gain feedback on areas where he needs to show improvement, but ultimately opted to return to school.

His sophomore season was nearly identical to the year prior, as the guard again averaged 13.4 points a game on 41% shooting. He was a bit inconsistent at times, and didn’t quite show the jump that NBA scouts were expecting. Still, Lawson decided to declare for the draft a second straight season.

He would end up returning for his junior year, where he averaged a career-high 16.6 points per game in a COVID ravaged season that saw the Gamecocks win just six contests. After twice declaring for the draft, the shooter had a decision to make regarding his future. The NCAA permits players from returning to school following a third NBA declaration, meaning the option to come back to South Carolina would not be available this time around, even if he didn’t hire an agent. Lawson’s teammates Jermaine Couisnard and Keyshawn Bryant have also declared, but since it’s their first time through the process, they’re expected to be back with the Gamecocks in 2021.

Lawson is not currently projected to be selected in the upcoming draft, but he could find a specific team fit during his NBA workouts. Even if he’s not chosen in the two-round event, the 6-foot-6 wingman could pave a path to the pros through the G-League, much like former Gamecock PJ Dozier.

How does South Carolina basketball replace Lawson’s production?

The Gamecocks have already hit the transfer portal hard this offseason, landing a trio of backcourt players over the last month. Chico Carter (Murray St.), James Reese (N. Texas), and Erik Stevenson (Washington) have all committed to the program, and will add much needed depth to a roster that has experienced a ton of turnover.

Carter and Reese are legitimate scorers, notching 12.7 and 10.9 points per game, respectively last season. Carter finished out his sophomore year by scoring double figures in his final nine regular season contests, including four 20-point performances. Reese, a member of North Texas’s NCAA Tournament team last year, posted double figures in postseason matchups versus Villanova and Purdue.

Erik Stevenson also provides a shooting threat, posting 9.3 points per game last season with Washington, and 11.1 points per contest in his sophomore season at Wichita State. He’s a 44% shooter from the field that notched double digit scoring in 12 of his 20 matchups versus PAC-12 opponents last year.

Frank Martin will do his best to utilize these new additions in replacing Lawson’s scoring output, and all three will likely be defensive upgrades to a team that allowed an SEC-high 79.1 points per contest. While it’s always difficult to lose one of the team’s best players, the Gamecocks have done a nice job thus far in adding immediate contributors.