By Lee Eric Smith
Kansas.
As if it wasn’t bad enough that now-former Memphis Tigers Dedric and K.J. Lawson were leaving the University of Memphis, CBS Sports is reporting that the brothers are headed to Kansas — you know, the same school that snatched the NCAA championship away from Memphis back in 2008 in the National Championship game.
Gary Parrish (who also hosts a daily show on ESPN Radio in Memphis) reports from CBS Sports:
Former Memphis standouts Dedric and K.J. Lawson are transferring to Kansas, their father, Keelon Lawson, told CBS Sports on Monday.
A formal announcment is expected soon.
Dedric Lawson is a former McDonald’s All-American who averaged 19.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season while his brother, K.J. Lawson, averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds. Each will sit out next season per normal NCAA transfer rules and then play for the Jayhawks in the 2018-19 season.
Also worth noting: there are two more Lawson brothers — Chandler and Johnathan. One is a top-25 national recruit in the Class of 2019, the other a top-10 national recruit in the Class of 2021. And their cousin is D.J. Jeffries — a top-10 national recruit in the Class of 2019. So Hall of Fame coach Bill Self might’ve just become the leader to land multiple future McDonald’s All-Americans in addition to the two players he’s about to enroll.
It’ll be curious to see how Tigers’ fans respond. Is this defection a greater act of treason that John Calipari leaving for Kentucky? Or will fans give the Lawsons a break because they escaped the dumpster fire called Tigers basketball? Or will it even matter once they’ve both declared for the NBA draft in two years?
