Dazia Lawrence, left, with UK teammate Georgia Amoore at SEC Media Day. (SEC Photo)
Dazia Lawrence, a 5-8 fifth-year guard, jumped at a chance to transfer to Kentucky after UK coach Kenny Brooks added Charlotte assistant coach Ciara Gregory to his first UK staff.
Lawrence played four seasons at Charlotte and amassed 1,170 points along with 287 rebounds, 162 assists and 133 steals. Last season she averaged 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She scored in double figures in 26 of 31 games, including 13 20-point games.
“Dazia Lawrence, we knew she was going to be special to us, obviously, with her experience playing in different conferences, the University of Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte. She hasn’t disappointed,” Brooks said at SEC Media Day.
“Her leadership, her experience has been very valuable to us. If anything, we’ve had to tell her to be a little bit more aggressive because she fits exactly what we needed in that spot. Especially with the injuries that we’ve had. She’s willing to step up. She’s becoming more and more comfortable in her role as a leader on a team that she didn’t know.”
That leadership capability is probably a big reason Brooks took her to SEC Media Day along with All-American guard Georgia Amoore, who came from Virginia Tech with Brooks.
“I’m very excited about her productivity. Her and Georgia combined, it has to be — please somebody check, double-check, they have to be the oldest backcourt in the country,” Brooks said. “Both of them are 23 years old.
“That’s going to benefit us very well, especially in a conference like this where there’s so many talented players. They’ll be able to be our calm within a storm. Dazia has done a tremendous job for us. I’m very proud of her.”
Brooks has encouraged Lawrence to work on her shooting. She shot 42.6 percent overall last season and 31 percent from 3-point range. She knows her percentages are too low for what Brooks wants.
“Coach Brooks mentioned to me on my visit that I had to work on my shot,” she said. “I worked on my shot all summer, including my footwork. I worked on all the little things to make my shot better so I can make more shots.”
