FILM ROOM: Dazia Lawrence is a flat-out scorer with tremendous upside

Welcome to KSR’s second edition of the “Film Room” series, a weekly series where we’ll be taking a look at each player on Kentucky’s 2024-25 roster and breaking down their film. This time, we take a look at Charlotte transfer guard Dazia Lawrence.

The First-Team All-AAC guard was phenomenal during her time with the 49ers, breaking out as a redshirt sophomore where she averaged 16.9 PPG while shooting 36% from three-point range. This past season, she elevated her game even more, averaging 18.2 PPG. Now a redshirt senior, she brings experience and an innate ability to put the ball in the hoop.

Let’s dive in. You can also view our other Film Room breakdowns by clicking below.

• Georgia Amoore FILM ROOM

Excels at creating her own shot

One thing Kentucky fans will notice right away about Lawrence is that she is a very, very gifted scorer. Perhaps her best quality in particular is her ability to create her own shot. Even though teams zeroed in on her defensively a lot last season, she still found ways to score.

She was often aided by screens to open her up, but those were often negated by double-teams and even triple-teams every now and then. At that point, Lawrence would take matters into her own hands and finds a way to score. She often resorted to her Iverson-like ball-handling abilities to create separation.

However, against power conference opponents and ultimately just better coaches, Lawrence struggled. She had just nine points against NC State and Wake Forest, and she was held to a season-low eight points against West Virginia. The difference now is that she’ll have some major talent surrounding her that will take some of the defensive pressure away from her. Will she score in double-digits every game? Probably not, but she won’t have very many off-nights either, if any.

Being able to attack the rack despite being undersized

Speaking of Iverson-like abilities, Lawrence is exceptional when it comes to getting to the rim and finishing, even against bigger and stronger opponents. At just 5-foot-8, you’d think that Lawrence would just hover around the perimeter, but that’s not enough for her.

Lawrence seems to be able to pick up on players’ tendencies really well down low. It’s brains over brawn with her. If she sees a defender drop their foot one way, she knows she’ll be able to maneuver around them the other way. If a player jumps to contest too early, she picks up on it and draws the foul.

Even when Lawrence is contested and the quality of the shot seems skeptical, she stays focused and ultimately fights through contact for the score. Players tend to panic around the bucket when pressure collapses on them, but not Lawrence. She seems to welcome pressure, which we’re about to get to.

Shining under the spotlight and in big moments

Time and time again, Lawrence carried the 49ers across the finish line in close games. Just last season alone, Charlotte played in four games that went into overtime and won three of those matchups. In those four games, Lawrence averaged 23.3 points per game.

Down the stretch and in big-time moments, Lawrence shows up.

At Charlotte, Lawrence was the go-to player in key spots. If the team needs a three to get back in the game, Lawrence shoots it. If the team needs to put the game away in the fourth quarter, Lawrence answers the call. Don’t be surprised if she’s the main reason Kentucky gets a win or two in close games.