2007-08 Feature Stories

Duncan Lawson Finding his Way

by Bob Quillman

September 19, 2007

----------

Finding IWU

The 18-year-old son of Dennis and Kathy Lawson of Glen Ellyn takes his parent's advice to heart. So last year when his father made a suggestion regarding his college search, he listened.  "My dad told me to use basketball as a tool to open doors of opportunity," Lawson said.  "He said I'd get a chance to explore a lot of opportunities because of my basketball abilities and that I should take advantage of that."

Duncan did just that throughout the course of his senior year at Glenbard West. One door that opened for Lawson was Dartmouth of the Ivy League, where he made a visit early in his senior season. Another was Princeton, which expressed interest in February. Closer to home, three strong opportunities presented themselves due to Lawson's academic and athletic resume -- Lawrence University, University of Chicago, and Illinois Wesleyan.  He took a good look at all of them.

"I did not want to sacrifice academics in picking a college, so all of the schools I looked at were very strong academically," he said. "I had a chance to learn about some great schools due to my basketball abilities and it was a great process."

One of the first college coaches in line for Duncan Lawson's services last year was new Illinois Wesleyan skipper Ron Rose.

"The first time I met Coach Rose was during a visit he made to my high school (Glenbard West) last September," said Lawson. "I got out of Calculus to meet with him for about a half hour, but we ended up talking for about two hours. I could tell how excited he was about being the coach at Illinois Wesleyan. I connected with him immediately."

After his senior season came to end in a Super-Sectional loss to Lockport (featuring fellow IWU recruit Doug Sexauer indicentally), it was time to make a college decision. Lawson narrowed his decision down to Illinois Wesleyan and Chicago and visited both schools one final time.

"As I thought about things, the passion for Illinois Wesleyan basketball really stood out," he said. "I came down for the Wash U game and a bunch of people could tell I was a basketball recruit and came up to talk to me about Illinois Wesleyan. Then I went to the game at Wheaton and there was more green than orange in the stands. The school pride was very obvious."

Being part of a great recruiting class was also a factor according to Lawson. "I started to hear about some of the guys who had committed (to IWU) or were close to," he said. I heard about Sean's (Johnson) second half vs Richwoods and how many points Travis (Rosenkranz) scored in the championship game of the tournament at Wesleyan (State Farm Holiday Classic vs Central Catholic) and all of things Matt (Schick) did at Lincoln. I was very impressed and could see myself fitting in very well in what Coach (Rose) was building."

Lawson says the overall comfort level with IWU was the deciding factor. "The players and coaches were great," he said. "Everyone was really easy to get along with and I could just see myself being part of the team. Overall, as I thought about it, it just seemed like I could get the whole package at llinois Wesleyan -- great basketball and great academics. I'm sure I made a really good decision and will never regret it."

Making the transition

So the recruiting honeymoon is over and Illinois Wesleyan freshman Duncan Lawson is now in the middle of what can be a very difficult transition - that from high school to college. From Chicago suburbs to Bloomington. From star basketball player to rookie. You wouldn't know from talking to him that it's any big deal though.

"The basketball support system has made the transition very easy," he said. "Everyone kind of looks out for each other. It is nice because we always have something to do and someone to do it with."

Lawson does acknowledge that he has more commitments to juggle however. "Learning to manage my time has been the biggest transition," said Lawson. "Right now we are playing three days a week, lifting three days a week, and at the same time trying to settle into our classes and new environment."

Speaking of classes, Lawson's four first semester classes are German, Philosophy, a Communications class called, "Why Talk if we Disagree?", and English course "From Exile to Expatriate." This reporter doesn't remember all of the fancy-named freshman year courses in the fall of 1989. Whatever happened to Expository Writing and Humanities 101??

A unique game

For those unfamiliar with Duncan Lawson on the basketball court, his is a bit of an oddity at the Division III level -- a 6-8/225 pound wing player.

"I am an outside player who has the ability to go inside when the matchup makes sense," he explained. "I feel comfortable playing the 3 or the 4."

Lawson averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game on a 22-8 Glenbard West team. He shot 40% from 3-point range and led his team in assists. "I pride myself in being a great passer and I love creating opportunities for teammates," he said. "For my size, I handle the ball well and that helps create mismatches."

In terms of where his focus is currently, Duncan says the weight room will be a regular first semester hangout. "Physical conditioning is my number one emphasis right now," he said. "I need to get stronger and in the best shape possible. Coach has really challenged me to work hard."

Lawson values the importance of physical conditioning after some of his preseason pickup games. "The biggest difference from high school is that here everyone you play against is really good," he said. "It is a little like the transition from my sophomore team to varsity where things just moved so much faster. I have to be ready physically for all of this."

Setting the bar high

Illinois Wesleyan's tradition of success was a factor that brought Duncan Lawson to Bloomington and it sounds like it is something he has every intention of carrying on. "I want us to win the CCIW as many times as we can and compete for a Final Four spot and national championship our junior and senior years. I know that is saying a lot but I have really high expectations for this nucleus."

And as far as the 2007-08 season? "Hopefully we get picked last (in the CCIW Preseason Coaches Poll)," Lawson joked. "We plan to prove that a young and inexperienced team can win."

Ron Rose and the Titans begin practice in just less than a month.  The first time you check out the green and white this year and see a 6-8 kid firing 3's and bringing the ball up the floor, don't do a double-take.  That's just Duncan Lawson -- one of the talented freshmen you'll see plenty of the next four years.