Gani Lawal Makes the Leap

W2W4: Georgia Tech hosts Duke, as another '07 shows off.

Getty Images

The company is competitive, but Lawal is rising.

We'll forgive you for overlooking Gani Lawal, the sophomore forward from Georgia Tech. Let's just say he may have gotten lost in the crowd.

But what a crowd. As a part of the HS senior class of 2007, Luwal was bunched in amidst just a wee bit of talent. The group, all of whom could be college sophomores right now, already reads like a bonafide NBA team. Check out this class: O.J. Mayo is already averaging 20 ppg in the NBA, but he might be second in ROTY voting to fellow '07 alum and Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose. Michael Beasley is already making his mark alongside Dwyane Wade with the Miami Heat after a detour through Kansas State. Then you have those other NBA top picks, like Eric Gordon (Clippers), Kevin Love (Timberwolves) and Jerryd Bayless (Trailblazers). There's more.

We forget that old rule: kids are actually allowed to attend college for more than a year and still be considered a decent prospect. (Archaic, we know.) So consider that the upcoming draft is also dominated by 2007 high school seniors.

Blake Griffin is projected at #1 by NBADraft.net, followed by fellow '07 alum James Harden. And don't forget Patrick Patterson from Kentucky, Austin Daye of Gonzaga or Jeff Teague of Wake Forest, who dominated North Carolina on Sunday night in front of a national TV audience.

Where is Lawal? He sits comfortably as a possible top ten pick, much higher than recruiting experts saw him. After a solid Freshman season (at least by normal standards) Lawal is averaging 16.8 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore.

"We ranked Gani No. 29 in our last high school ranking. We thought (he) was limited skill-wise as is indicated by his free throw percentage and non-three point shooting, but we loved his motor, heart and competitiveness," says Jerry Meyer, a recruiting expert for Rivals.com. "We weren't sold on him being a pro because of some limitations but thought that by his junior year he would do what he is doing."

Meyer still believes that Lawal faces an uphill battle to be a pro "unless he develops a reliable jump shot."

But others see a player whose skills have advanced quickly. The only problem for Lawal, it seems, is the rate at which others in such a brilliant class have seen their own skills improve. For many in this preternaturally gifted group, perhaps many of those skills were somehow born in.

"He probably had a slower freshman season than some of his peers," says Scout.com National Recruiting Director Dave Telep, "but he's got it going and is playing to his expectations this year. ACC season is the real test and from the looks of it, he's ready for the challenge."

Tonight, Lawal gets to put his game on display against 2nd ranked Duke, led by—what else—another stud from the class of '07, Kyle Singler, who, like Lawal, has improved dramatically this year after a decent freshman campaign. He comes in averaging 16.7 ppg.

Even if he is an incomplete product by pro standards, it would be hard to blame Lawal for making the jump after this year if the lottery looms.

As a junior, by the standards of his class, he'd be an old man in the college game.

Print Article . Email Article. Subscribe to The Magazine