South Carolina basketball: AJ Lawson playing in NBA G-League Camp

Former South Carolina basketball star will display his skills to pro scouts.

AJ Lawson tested the NBA waters in each of his first two seasons at South Carolina, showing off his basketball abilities to professional organizations. He’s hoping that the third time will be the charm, as he continues to pursue his dream of an NBA career.

Back in May, the sharp shooter declared for the draft. With it being his third time entering the draft process, he was forced to forego his final season of eligibility according to NCAA bylaws. Lawson has led the team in scoring each of the last two years, culminating with a career-best 16.6 point per game average in 2020.

It was announced on Monday that the former Gamecock would be one of 40 players taking part in the G League Elite Camp, a three-day event that allows prospects the opportunity to try out in front of pro scouts ahead of the NBA Combine, which will take place June 21-27.

While the season didn’t go according to plan for Frank Martin and South Carolina, Lawson was a bright spot on a six-win team. He was the most consistent player on the floor for the Gamecocks, and one of the only true scoring threats on offense.

Lawson began to catch the eye of NBA teams following a fantastic freshman campaign. That season, the guard posted totals of 13.4 points and 2.9 assists per game. Leading into his second season, Lawson’s name began popping up in mock drafts. Unfortunately, he hit a bit of a sophomore slump, seeing dips in rebounds and assists, while maintaining that 13.4 point scoring output.

He saw a jump in scoring as a junior, and while he hasn’t seen quite the buzz that he did as a freshman, Lawson decided it was best to pursue a professional career rather than return to Columbia for a fourth year.

We’ve seen a couple of former Gamecocks navigate their way through the G League to eventually find a place on an NBA roster. Undrafted players like PJ Dozier and Chris Silva have parlayed solid G League performances into professional roster spots. With a solid showing at this camp event, maybe Lawson can follow in their footsteps.