Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner’s attempts to secure an elite prospect in the signing 2019 class are not over. Chandler Lawson, a small forward from Memphis, Tenn., rated in the top 60 in the senior class by ESPN, has an official visit scheduled at Tech this weekend, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Pastner and his staff have been in the mix with a number of top-100 prospects, notably Buford High guard Marcus Watson, but seen them commit elsewhere. But Lawson’s impending official visit would seem to signal sincere interest in Tech. Oregon and Ole Miss, where he has also taken official visits, are believed to be Tech’s main competition.
On highlight videos, Lawson, listed at 6-foot-8 and 205 pounds, shows an ability to score from the perimeter off the dribble and also in the post. He demonstrates passing vision, ballhandling ability skill, quickness off his feet and an ability to create shots for himself.
Pastner and also assistant coach Julian Swartz have a significant connection with Lawson and his family. When Pastner was coach at Memphis, he recruited Lawson’s older brothers Dedric and K.J. to the school. Pastner also hired their father Keelon, a longtime high-school coach in Memphis, as an assistant coach prior to Dedric’s commitment to the school. Swartz was on Pastner’s staff at Memphis and came with Pastner to Tech. Both older Lawson brothers are at Kansas, which has not made an offer to Chandler.
Tech has two open scholarships remaining for the 2019-20 academic year. Pastner received a commitment earlier this month from David Didenko, a junior-college freshman forward from Boca Raton, Fla.
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