A true point guard is arguably the rarest player to find in college basketball today. In 1988 Coach Randy Lambert brought in his missing ingredient to foster a succession of team success that is unrivaled in school history. Tim Lawrence, a 5’9” 150 pound product out of Decatur, Georgia, was prepared to learn how to take a young and talented program to the next level and beyond.
As a freshman in 1988-1989 the Scots were closing the chapter on a 10 year association with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Tim’s Scots went 18-8 and the rookie floor general played in all 26 games. While not relied on for his scoring, Lawrence was very efficient in finding teammates Dean Walsh and Scott Fletcher in the post while kicking out penetrating drives to Pat Heldman for a strong outside attack. Tim finished the season with 98 assists, averaging 3.8 per game. He developed his shooting touch throughout the season and was ready when called upon. He finished his first collegiate season hitting 44% of his shots while sinking 68% of his free-throws.
Tim’s sophomore campaign began another key era in MC Athletics history. From 1989-1999 the Scots competed as an independent within the NCAA Division III. Playing traditional rivals and expanding to a more regional schedule, MC finished the season 17-7. Tim’s shooting touch and consistency were called upon on a more steady basis by Coach Lambert and his staff. He doubled his freshman point output while shooting at a much improved pace. He became an 84% free-throw shooter while hitting 51% from the field. As his strength and feel for the game increased, so too did his perimeter attack. He finished his second season hitting 50% from beyond the arc. As a distributor, he equaled his assist total while averaging 4.1 dishes a game while being surrounded by a young, but strong team led by Wall of Fame member Brett Stanley, Jesse Robinette, Kenyon Lacey, Glen Cullop, Babatu Willingham, and Rodney Lane.
In 1990-1991 this talented group on the hard court meshed to give Coach Lambert his first 20 win season after 11 years at the helm. Lawrence’s squad finished the season 22-5 and earned the basketball program’s first and school’s 5th overall trip to the NCAA post season. Lawrence, along with Jesse Robinette, was named Co-Team MVP. This unselfish leader once again doubled his scoring average. He averaged 10.1 points a game while hitting 55% from the floor. His three-point accuracy once again went through the roof hitting at a 59% rate. He relished in his role as a distributor accumulating 223 assists, averaging 8.3 per game at the conclusion of his junior season. The year ended on the road at the NCAA Tournament when MC fell to Washington University in St. Louis 76-73 in the first round.
With a winning attitude, talented players, and a desire to surpass last season this core of standouts would soon embark on one of the most exciting seasons in the history of Maryville College Athletics.
Lambert's orange and garnet squad of 1991-1992 left a legacy that has yet to be equaled, ending the season with a 25-4 record. This outstanding team was ranked sixth nationally in the final poll and received the No.1 seed in the South for the national tournament. Lawrence excelled in each of MC’s 29 games. He recorded his career high in points scored (412) while averaging 14.2 points a game. He continued to be a deadly free-throw and three-point shooter. His assists, now over 8 per game, were legendary to Wall of Famer Kelvin Richardson, Glen Cullop, Babatu Willingham, Rodney Lane, Kenyon Lacey, and Kendal Wallace. His efforts were rewarded with his second team MVP accolade.
Coach Randy Lambert stated that the 1991-92 team was one of the best teams he had ever coached because he had one of the surest point guards controlling his team. “He could execute our game strategies to a tee and it was always nice knowing that you has a guy to take care of the ball, he had that sureness. “We went how Tim played, exclaimed Lambert…and Tim never had a bad game.”
His final collegiate team advanced to the final round of eight after defeating Ferrum College 94-92 and a strong Illinois Wesleyan team 73-71. His Scots were defeated in the finals of the sectional by Wisconsin-Platteville 87-83 in overtime on the Boydson Gymnasium floor.
Only two weeks after graduation, Tim began working for American Rug Craftsmen as a production manager. He was promoted to quality control manager after two years and remained in the quality control department for nine years. During this time frame both of his sons Malik and Makail were born. He left the company in 2003 to start his own business and after a few years returned to Mohawk to work in quality control until 2008. He is now working with his younger brother and father in a family business.
With 884 career points and an astounding 660 career assists, Tim Lawrence will always be remembered as the leader of one of the most successful teams in MC’s stories basketball tradition. His career assist numbers ranks him 21st All-Time in the NCAA Division III record book and his career average of 6.2 assists per game ranks him 22nd All-Time within the NCAA Division III. “Tim was one of the best at getting his teammates involved and being an up-tempo point guard,” stated Coach Lambert. “He was quick, fast, and easy to coach; his play showed that he was very unselfish and was a pesky defender who was ball-hawking and in your face on the defensive side.”
Ladies and gentlemen please help me welcome Tim Lawrence, the model of what future Scots point guards aspire to be, to the 2011 Class of the Maryville College Wall of Fame.
