Jermaine Lawrence asks for release

[UCalum08]

Guys go back and read some of the threads out there from when we were recruiting him. He didn't play a 4 in HS.

Also playing the wing versus playing with your back to the hoop is entirely a different game. Lots more space to maneuver on the wing. Your comparing apples and oranges. I saw enough of him handling the ball to know he wasn't a post player. Mick even said he played out of his position.

True but his handles told me he wasn't a 3 either. He might have played 3 his junior year of hs but against real competition he couldn't get past his man. Coming in and during his frosh year he would have been out of position anywhere on the court. Not strong enough for a 4 but not skilled enough for a 3. Regardless it would take Lawrence a good 2 years til he could be comfortable on the court. He just needs to put the time into gaining muscle and working on his offensive game to become an actual threat. No reason why he couldn't be a 3 or 4 but it would just take time.

 

[bearcat18]

Guys go back and read some of the threads out there from when we were recruiting him. He didn't play a 4 in HS.

Also playing the wing versus playing with your back to the hoop is entirely a different game. Lots more space to maneuver on the wing. Your comparing apples and oranges. I saw enough of him handling the ball to know he wasn't a post player. Mick even said he played out of his position.

I guess it depends on who you are, because I saw enough of him handling the ball to know he's NOT a wing player.

If Mick thought he was a 3, he would have played him at the 3. Simple as that. If he was a 3, Mick would have rolled out a Lawrence, Rubles, Jackson lineup. That happened ZERO times all year.

The only time Mick said he was playing out of position would be when he was playing the 5 to fill in for Jackson. THAT DOES NOT MEAN HE THINKS HE'S A 3.

One last thing - Lawrence would have gotten absolutely abused on defense if he played the 3. Guarding someone on the perimeter and chasing shooters off screens wouldn't have ended well. I think over time (in 2-3 years) he could potentially play the 3, but no way right now or next year.

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here. I respect everyone's opinion on here but I'm fairly certain on this.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

True but his handles told me he wasn't a 3 either. He might have played 3 his junior year of hs but against real competition he couldn't get past his man. Coming in and during his frosh year he would have been out of position anywhere on the court. Not strong enough for a 4 but not skilled enough for a 3. Regardless it would take Lawrence a good 2 years til he could be comfortable on the court. He just needs to put the time into gaining muscle and working on his offensive game to become an actual threat. No reason why he couldn't be a 3 or 4 but it would just take time.

lots of his issue was where he was playing. I wouldn't take anything you saw from him last year as a true example of what his game is really about. Not being able to play to your strengths in games and more importantly practice has to have a huge impact on your performance. I saw enough of his court vision on some passes and his ball handling to know he has special talent. Prior to his senior year he was eating high profile recruits for breakfast. Especially in Pittsburgh. The injury hurt him and playing out of position was huge. Losing him will be a very big loss.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I guess it depends on who you are, because I saw enough of him handling the ball to know he's NOT a wing player.

If Mick thought he was a 3, he would have played him at the 3. Simple as that. If he was a 3, Mick would have rolled out a Lawrence, Rubles, Jackson lineup. That happened ZERO times all year.

The only time Mick said he was playing out of position would be when he was playing the 5 to fill in for Jackson. THAT DOES NOT MEAN HE THINKS HE'S A 3.

One last thing - Lawrence would have gotten absolutely abused on defense if he played the 3. Guarding someone on the perimeter and chasing shooters off screens wouldn't have ended well. I think over time (in 2-3 years) he could potentially play the 3, but no way right now or next year.

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here. I respect everyone's opinion on here but I'm fairly certain on this.

Mick played him where he needed him. Backing up our very short and thin frontline Rubles and JJ. Go back and read the scouting reports on him. He played the 4 and 5 because he was the best toon to do so. The 3 is his natural position. All freshman have trouble defensively. Mostly because they don't play any in HS. Exactly why TC didn't start over GG.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

This was write up came out after he signed.

Even if he wasn't banged up, it's become quite apparent from those who have seen him at summer league that he drastically needs to add some weight and strength, something the returning players already have. Also, he's not joining a program devoid of talent. Even though he's 6-foot-9, he is apparently going to play the "small forward" position. Right now, with Sean Kilpatrick manning the shooting guard spot, Shaquille Thomas is going to (hopefully) be the man at the "3" with Titus Rubles and Justin Jackson likely rounding out the "4" and "5" positions...at least to start.

He was recruited to play the 3.

 

[Bulldog01]

lots of his issue was where he was playing. I wouldn't take anything you saw from him last year as a true example of what his game is really about. Not being able to play to your strengths in games and more importantly practice has to have a huge impact on your performance. I saw enough of his court vision on some passes and his ball handling to know he has special talent. Prior to his senior year he was eating high profile recruits for breakfast. Especially in Pittsburgh. The injury hurt him and playing out of position was huge. Losing him will be a very big loss.

trying to stay positive but if he leaves I don't see how we make tournament. I don't even see Mick releasing him of his scholarship, it would've happened already, its starting to get late in ballgame to be joining team. Team workouts start next week so we'll see if he come backs.

 

[bearcat18]

Wait, let me get this straight.

You guys are saying they recruited Lawrence to play the 3. That means the staff felt comfortable going into the season with just Rubles, Jackson, Nyarsuk, and Strickland?

I'm not buying that one bit. They were sold on Rubles and Jackson starting, with Lawrence backing up the 4 and Strickland the 5 with Dave as another backup.

If they were planning on Lawrence at the 3, they probably wouldn't have taken Morman. Instead, they would've went for another big guy.

No way in hell the staff went into the season with two undersized bigs, an NAIA transfer and a freshman with eligibility issues (although they weren't really expected).

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Wait, let me get this straight.

You guys are saying they recruited Lawrence to play the 3. That means the staff felt comfortable going into the season with just Rubles, Jackson, Nyarsuk, and Strickland?

I'm not buying that one bit. They were sold on Rubles and Jackson starting, with Lawrence backing up the 4 and Strickland the 5 with Dave as another backup.

If they were planning on Lawrence at the 3, they probably wouldn't have taken Morman. Instead, they would've went for another big guy.

No way in hell the staff went into the season with two undersized bigs, an NAIA transfer and a freshman with eligibility issues (although they weren't really expected).

That is exactly what I'm saying. He was recruited to play the 3. That wasn't a secret. That fact they went into the season with that group doesn't mean they were happy about it. He didn't come here to play with his back to the basket. If he was told that up front he never would have signed.

 

[Bulldog01]

Wait, let me get this straight.

You guys are saying they recruited Lawrence to play the 3. That means the staff felt comfortable going into the season with just Rubles, Jackson, Nyarsuk, and Strickland?

I'm not buying that one bit. They were sold on Rubles and Jackson starting, with Lawrence backing up the 4 and Strickland the 5 with Dave as another backup.

If they were planning on Lawrence at the 3, they probably wouldn't have taken Morman. Instead, they would've went for another big guy.

No way in hell the staff went into the season with two undersized bigs, an NAIA transfer and a freshman with eligibility issues (although they weren't really expected).

That is crazy but if you think about we've never had full roster with Mick I believe. So 2deep is normal I think for us and basically any team for that matter. The average team only play 7-8 guys on regular.

 

[[email protected]]

Perhaps JL is a 3 but he really didnt show the skills of a 3 at any point. He also didn't really ahoy skills of a 4. He got pushed around quite a bit in the paint and either got his shot blocked or couldn't finish. What I find strange is that according to several rating services, he was a 5 star recruit and top 25 player. However, if you look at the ESPN site, he only received offers from UNLV, Tulsa, and UC. I do hope he sticks around and develops into the player he was hyped to be but doesn't it seem strange that he only got offers from those 3 schools?

 

[Bearcat Rob]

Perhaps JL is a 3 but he really didnt show the skills of a 3 at any point. He also didn't really ahoy skills of a 4. He got pushed around quite a bit in the paint and either got his shot blocked or couldn't finish. What I find strange is that according to several rating services, he was a 5 star recruit and top 25 player. However, if you look at the ESPN site, he only received offers from UNLV, Tulsa, and UC. I do hope he sticks around and develops into the player he was hyped to be but doesn't it seem strange that he only got offers from those 3 schools?

He had more offers than he knew what to do with. When he trimmed his list to 7 they were these schools Cincinnati, Kansas, Kentucky, St. John's, Syracuse, UCLA and UNLV. He had huge offers coulda went to some other huge schools

 

[TheLongHaul]

That is exactly what I'm saying. He was recruited to play the 3. That wasn't a secret. That fact they went into the season with that group doesn't mean they were happy about it. He didn't come here to play with his back to the basket. If he was told that up front he never would have signed.

Just because he didn't play with his back to the basket doesn't mean he is a 3. It's called a face up forward. Same thing Gary Clark is. If Mick recruited him to play the 3 then it's on him because Lawrence doesn't have the skills to play the 3. There is nothing wrong with being a very good 4.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Just because he didn't play with his back to the basket doesn't mean he is a 3. It's called a face up forward. Same thing Gary Clark is. If Mick recruited him to play the 3 then it's on him because Lawrence doesn't have the skills to play the 3. There is nothing wrong with being a very good 4.

no way I'm ready to right off JL as a 3 off a injury filled year and playing out of position as a freshmen. He was a perimeter wing in HS. There is also nothing wrong with him being a very good 3.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

He had more offers than he knew what to do with. When he trimmed his list to 7 they were these schools Cincinnati, Kansas, Kentucky, St. John's, Syracuse, UCLA and UNLV. He had huge offers coulda went to some other huge schools

Absolutely Rob! This kid has skills. I'm aware he didn't show it last year but on many occasions Mick himself said he played out of position. His game is a 3. That's why he was rated so highly.

 

[TheLongHaul]

no way I'm ready to right off JL as a 3 off a injury filled year and playing out of position as a freshmen. He was a perimeter wing in HS. There is also nothing wrong with him being a very good 3.

He played a face up 4 in HS, not a wing. Obviously it'd be great if he was a great 3, but he doesn't have the skills for it, not sure why everyone wants to turn people into who they aren't, just as it was for Justin Jackson. I can go back and find a million posts of people saying JJ would be a 3.

Absolutely Rob! This kid has skills. I'm aware he didn't show it last year but on many occasions Mick himself said he played out of position. His game is a 3. That's why he was rated so highly.

Mick said he was playing out of position at the 5. Doesn't mean he thought he should have been a 3. His game is nowhere near a 3. Does he shoot well from outside? No. Does he handle the ball in transition? No. Does he handle the ball well attacking the basket from the wing? No. So what on earth does he do well for a 3?

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

We've said it before but his best case scenario was to be like DeAndre Daniels or LaQuinton Ross as a stretch 4 that can shoot from the perimeter but also rebound and score effectively 12 feet and in too.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

We've said it before but his best case scenario was to be like DeAndre Daniels or LaQuinton Ross as a stretch 4 that can shoot from the perimeter but also rebound and score effectively 12 feet and in too.

I wish he would've tried to take the Adreian Payne route. I know he wants to be a perimeter guy, but the fact is when you are 6'10" in college, you have to do at least some big guy stuff. I don't get why players are so resistant to working their game inside out. If he has good enough touch, he'll make his way to 17 ft and beyond by the time he's an upperclassman. NBA scouts aren't going to look at him as a 4 no matter what, so I don't get why being labeled that at UC is such a problem.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

He played a face up 4 in HS, not a wing. Obviously it'd be great if he was a great 3, but he doesn't have the skills for it, not sure why everyone wants to turn people into who they aren't, just as it was for Justin Jackson. I can go back and find a million posts of people saying JJ would be a 3.



Mick said he was playing out of position at the 5. Doesn't mean he thought he should have been a 3. His game is nowhere near a 3. Does he shoot well from outside? No. Does he handle the ball in transition? No. Does he handle the ball well attacking the basket from the wing? No. So what on earth does he do well for a 3?

If you haven't mastered a 12-15 ft jumper and aren't even shooting 50% on FT, then you are not even close to being a 3 in my book.

 

[waterhead]

I don't care if you call Lawrence a PG...as long as you take full advantage of his skill set and his strengths. He's definitely not a 5 and he's definitely not a 1 or 2. He had attributes coming out of HS as a 3 or a 4 and it wouldn't have mattered what position you assigned him to as long as you set him up to take advantage of his strengths.

I think he needed to be moving without the ball more and catching when he was moving rather than catching it standing still. He's a free flowing player...not a rigid mechanical player.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

He played a face up 4 in HS, not a wing. Obviously it'd be great if he was a great 3, but he doesn't have the skills for it, not sure why everyone wants to turn people into who they aren't, just as it was for Justin Jackson. I can go back and find a million posts of people saying JJ would be a 3.



Mick said he was playing out of position at the 5. Doesn't mean he thought he should have been a 3. His game is nowhere near a 3. Does he shoot well from outside? No. Does he handle the ball in transition? No. Does he handle the ball well attacking the basket from the wing? No. So what on earth does he do well for a 3?

JJ and JL are two different players. I suggest you go back and read his scouting reports. His freshmen year he was never comfortable and his entire game suffered. He was being asked to play a position he was totally unfamiliar with. It will be a huge loss if he leaves.