Former Lakewood star Anthony Lawrence is a key member of the Miami Hurricanes basketball team. Check out this Q&A…
I started playing basketball when I was four. I continued playing at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg. Since then, I have always dreamed of playing in the NBA.
When I play basketball I pretend to be LeBron James. I idolize the way he plays. I have watched him play for years now and he has been the best player in the league since I started following him. I don’t try to shoot like him but I am inspired by his grit and attitude on the court.
The hardest part of being away from home is missing my family and friends and just the feeling of being home.
Playing basketball has given me the opportunity to obtain a scholarship at a top 50 institution, play college basketball and travel all over the country.
I was first introduced to Coach L in eighth grade, that is when he started to recruit me.
I am a Hurricane because of Coach L. I like the way he coaches and his style of play.
The U is part of who I am, I have always been a U fan growing up. My dad and my uncle both attended the University of Miami. The U is in my legacy.
Playing for Coach L, I have really learned that to be successful you have to work on your own time. I try to shoot every day before practice, after practice and on the weekend.
Everyone should know that UM hoops is a family, we all bond together. We are together all the time, on campus you never see anyone walking alone. We are always together. I am closest to Ja’Quan Newton; we are always together.
I want people to remember me as the guy who can play the one through four, and guard multiple positions.
Coach L is one of the nicest coaches I have ever played for. I have only ever played for coaches who like to argue with me but coach L isn’t like that. He talks you through things in a way that he can get his point across and make you want to do better, and he lets you play the game.
Dunking feels like I just bought a new pair of shoes.
If I wasn’t playing basketball, I would be fat because I like to eat a lot and I can be lazy.
My personal goals before I graduate are to score 1,000 points and to be on the All-ACC team.
Most people don’t know that I love shopping. I like to shop for clothes and shoes. I like foreign, brand name shoes.
My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love receiving gifts and being with my family.
After college I want to continue to play basketball. I hope that I don’t have to work a 9-to-5 job, but if basketball doesn’t work out, my second aspiration is to be a physical therapist or something in the sports training field.
They call me Amp because most guys named Anthony in my area, at least back home, were called AMP and the nickname just followed me here. Nobody calls me Anthony anymore, so when I do hear the name I’m like, “Who’s that?”