Danny Lawhorn signs NLI
UPDATE: Here's an updated story we filed with quotes from Ken Bone.
COUGARS
FROM PULLMAN -- The addition of Washington State’s new point guard is official.
Danny Lawhorn, a 5-foot-10 transfer from San Jacinto (Junior) College in Pasadena, Texas, signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play basketball at WSU.
Lawhorn figures to compete immediately for the Cougars’ starting point guard job. He led the NJCAA in assists per game with 9.5 two seasons ago, and finished second in the nation last season with 8.43 per game.
His signing is also the result of the national junior-college connections possessed by assistant coach Ray Lopes, who joined WSU’s staff last summer and was instrumental in helping the Cougars connect with Lawhorn.
After watching him play, WSU coach Ken Bone liked what he saw.
“What I really, really liked was the fact that not only was he a good passer, but he’s got a real desire to hook guys up with passes,” Bone said via telephone from Portland. “That, along with his quickness and his ball handling – I think he could contribute to our program right away.”
Lawhorn fills WSU’s 13th and last available scholarship after former signee Tanner Lancona and WSU reached a “mutual agreement” last week that Lancona will not be coming to Pullman.
Bone said “it’s a possibility” that WSU could sign another player before the late signing period ends.
Bone isn’t ready to declare Lawhorn a likely starter for the Cougars, because another incoming player, freshman Ikenne Iroegbu, could also compete for that spot. And Royce Woolridge, who will be a junior, could still play at the 1, too.
“What I do like is we’re not as limited as we were last year, going into next year,” Bone said. “I think we’re pretty well covered at that position. I think Danny will be right in the mix.”
Lawhorn, who will be a junior, attended Hartford Public High School in Connecticut before transferring to South Kent School.
After Lawhorn finished the 2009-10 season at South Kent – and after reportedly committing to and decommitting from Boston College in 2009 and Fordham in 2010 – he spent time at the Robinson School in New Jersey before heading to San Jacinto for the 2011-12 season.
He was named second-team all-conference last season and helped lead San Jacinto to a 24-6 record. Scout.com reported that Lawhorn also had offers from Georgia and Kansas State, among others.
Here's the full release from WSU:
PULLMAN, Wash. – Danny Lawhorn (Hartford, Conn./ San Jacinto College-Texas) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Washington State University men’s basketball team beginning with the 2013-14 season, head coach Ken Bone announced Wednesday.
“Danny comes from a very successful program and we look forward to him being an integral part of our program next year,” Bone said. “I love his quickness and his ball handling. Maybe his best attributes, though, are his unselfishness and passing ability, which made him one of the top assist leaders nationwide the past two seasons.”
Lawhorn (5-foot-10, Guard) played two seasons at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. As a sophomore in 2012-13, Lawhorn appeared in 30 games for the Coyotes, averaging 9.9 points and 8.43 assists in 33.3 minutes per game, ranking second in the NJCAA. Lawhorn helped lead San Jacinto College to a 24-6 overall mark and 14-5 record in Region XIV play, as the Coyotes advanced to the semifinals of the Region XIV tournament. At the conclusion of the season, Lawhorn was named third team all-Region and second team all-conference, as well as to the Region XIV all-tournament team.
As a freshman at San Jacinto College, Lawhorn averaged 9.2 points and 9.5 assists per game in 30 contests for the 23-7 Coyotes, leading the nation in assists. He earned second team all-Region and second team all-conference honors.
For his career, Lawhorn averaged 9.6 points and 9.0 assists per game while playing in 60 contests. His 538 total career assists rank him second all-time at San Jacinto College. Prior to attending San Jacinto College, Lawhorn attended Hartford Public High School and South Kent School, both in Connecticut, where he graduated in 2010.
Lawhorn joins an incoming class that includes incoming freshmen Josh Hawkinson (6-9, 220, PF, Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood HS) and Ikenna ‘Ike’ Iroegbu (6-2, 190, G, Elk Grove, Calif./Oak Hill Academy).
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple