By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Jaylisa Lawson expressed appreciation for what Graham High School provided her in terms of girls’ basketball, but she was anxious to move into another opportunity.
She opted to graduate high school early and begin playing college basketball.
Lawson is heading to Division III Pfeiffer.
“To my Graham family, it will always be back and red (the school’s colors),” Lawson said.
She said the plan is to spend a couple of weeks in December working with the Pfeiffer women’s basketball team before she becomes eligible to play in January, when she’ll be enrolled at the school in Misenheimer.
By taking an extra English class and completing Alamance Community College courses, she’ll have enough credits to graduate from Graham.
“Graham helped me prepare myself to take that pathway,” Lawson said, also thanking coach Ashtenne Parker for her guidance.
Lawson was putting up such a high percentage of points for Graham last season that during one loss she scored all 30 of the team’s points. She averaged about 17 points per game last season as a junior in what turned out to be her only season with the Red Devils.
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There was a combination of celebration and send-off for Lawson in the Graham High School gym lobby last week.
For Parker, there was joy for Lawson and yet a bummer that the player won’t be around for a final season.
“This is an exciting moment,” Parker said. “She contemplated whether to graduate early. I did want her to stay, but I think this is really going to allow her to find herself.”
Lawson, who would have been one of two seniors on the Graham team this season, said she was motivated by the chance to play collegiately as soon as possible.
“It just helped me to push to get it done,” she said.
