USF Gets Former Pac-10 Standout Jessica Lawson

[Apis Bull]

USF Gets Former Pac-10 All-Freshmen Standout Jessica Lawson

Courtesy: USF

Release: 06/01/2006

Tampa, FL (June 1, 2006) – University of South Florida head women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez announced today that former University of California at Berkley standout Jessica Lawson (Edgewood, FL/Jones HS) has decided to transfer to USF. Lawson will have to sit out the 2006-07 season due to NCAA transfer rules. She will be eligible to play during the 2007-08 academic year and will have two years of eligibility left.

A 6-3 center, Lawson was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team following her rookie campaign after averaging 10.6 points which was good enough for second on the team and 14th in the Pac-10. In addition, her five rebounds per contest and her 21 blocked shots led the Bears on the year. Lawson also started at center in 27 of Cal’s 29 games.

The Orlando native tallied a career high 19 points twice – with both coming against Arizona during the 2004-05 season – and also recorded a career best 12 rebounds and three assists against the Wildcats on Feb. 5, 2005.

Lawson missed the 2005-06 campaign after suffering a knee injury prior to the season.

In high school, Lawson led Jones to the Florida state 4A title as a senior and was tabbed the Central Florida Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel and was named all-state as a junior and senior. In addition, she was also a three-time Street & Smith Honorable Mention All-American.

During her final year of scholastic ball, Lawson averaged 20.1 points and 17.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 60 percent from the field. Jones finished the 2003-04 season with a 29-2 record.

“We are very excited to add Jessica to our basketball team,†said Fernandez. “We recruited her out of high school and though an awful lot of her then. I think that she will be a great addition to our program and the BIG EAST Conference.â€Â

Lawson’s addition caps off what is the best recruiting class in the programs history, a class that was already ranked No. 17 in the nation by the Nike Blue Star Report and the third best in the BIG EAST Conference. Only league foes Connecticut (No. 1) and Rutgers (No. 2) inked better classes after the early signing period.

Lawson will join Melissa Dalembert (Miramar, FL/Miramar HS), Porche Grant (Oxon Hills, MD/Academy of the Holy Cross), Ashley McCray (Sanford, FL/Sanford HS), Daiane Packer (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Trinity Valley CC {TX}/Colegio Percepcao), Caitlyn Mitryck (Lake Mary, FL/Lake Mary HS), and Stephanie Sarosi (Titusville, FL/Astronaut HS) when they arrive on campus for the Fall of 2006.

The Bulls are coming off the most memorable season in the programs history. USF finished with a 19-12 record and a 9-7 slate in their first year in the BIG EAST Conference. In addition the Bulls advanced to their first-ever NCAA Tournament earning a No. 9 seed in the Bridgeport Region. They faced the No. 8 seed USC in the first round in Norfolk, VA losing to the Women of Troy 67-65.

USF Gets Former Pac-10 All-Freshmen Standout Jessica Lawson

[Superfan]

You the man coach Fernandez!! Keeps taking us a step closer to not only a Big East Championship but also a NCAA Championship. At this rate we should be close in the next couple of years!!