University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: SMU Athletics
Tigers ink Memphians Chandler and Johnathan Lawson
May 10, 2021 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway has announced the additions of Memphians Chandler Lawson (F, 6-8, University of Oregon) and Johnathan Lawson (F, 6-6, Memphis, Tenn.) to the roster for the upcoming 2021-22 season.
The Lawson brothers have seven high school state championships to their credit during their prep careers in The Bluff City, and the duo was on East High School's 2018 Class AAA title team that was coached by Hardaway (Chandler a junior, Johnathan a freshman). Hardaway was an assistant on East's 2016 and 2017 state championship squads in Chandler's freshman and sophomore seasons.
Chandler and Johnathan are the third and fourth Lawson brothers to play at the University of Memphis, joining Dedric and K.J. (2015-17).
With the NCAA Division I Council approving a one-time transfer waiver, Chandler Lawson will be eligible to play immediately next season.
The pair joins Earl Timberlake (G, 6-6, University of Miami), John Camden (F, 6-8, Wolfeboro, N.H.), Josh Minott (G, 6-9, Boca Raton, Fla.) and Sam Onu (C, 6-11, Malvern, Pa.) as additions to the Tigers roster for the 2021-22 campaign.
Chandler Lawson
In two seasons at Oregon after arriving as a four-star recruit and ESPN's 58th-ranked player, Chandler Lawson played in all 59 games for the Ducks and made 20 starts while averaging nearly 19 minutes per game. He was the only freshman to appear in all 31 games in 2019-20, as Oregon went 24-7 and was ranked 13th in the nation before the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his Oregon career, Lawson shot 51.5 percent from the field (106-206) and averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
While prepping in Memphis, Lawson helped East High School win three-straight state championships (2016-18), and he then won a fourth-straight at Wooddale High School as a senior in 2018-19. He scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Wooddale's win in the 2019 Class AA state championship game, and he scored 11 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and recorded two assists in the 2018 state championship game en route to the victory for East.
"Chandler is a Swiss Army knife on the court," Hardaway said. "On defense, on offense, with rebounding, by blocking shots, everything. He can fill a lot of different roles on our team, and he will be a great fit for us."
Johnathan Lawson
Ranked as a four-star recruit by both ESPN and Rivals and the 47th-best player nationally by ESPN, Johnathan Lawson became the first player in TSSAA history to win state championships at three different high schools. He scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out six assists in Houston High School's Class AAA state championship in 2021, and he also cut down the nets with East High School in 2018 and Wooddale High School in 2019. Wooddale also qualified for the state tournament in 2020 before it was canceled due to COVID-19.
Lawson averaged 17.3 points per game as a senior at Houston, which came after contributing 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game as a junior at Wooddale. He was the 2020 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and Class AA Mr. Basketball.
"Johnathan brings a high basketball IQ and the ability to make his teammates better," Hardaway explained. "He is super competitive, and, in fact, might be the most competitive player I've ever coached."
The Tigers won the 2021 NIT championship and finished the 2020-21 season with a 20-8 record. The 20-win season was Memphis' fourth in a row, including all three seasons under Hardaway. The Tigers are one of just 14 schools with four-straight 20-win seasons to their credit.
Hardaway has won 63 games in three seasons as Tigers head coach, which is the third-most among 50 head coaches hired before the 2018-19 season.
The Lawson brothers have seven high school state championships to their credit during their prep careers in The Bluff City, and the duo was on East High School's 2018 Class AAA title team that was coached by Hardaway (Chandler a junior, Johnathan a freshman). Hardaway was an assistant on East's 2016 and 2017 state championship squads in Chandler's freshman and sophomore seasons.
Chandler and Johnathan are the third and fourth Lawson brothers to play at the University of Memphis, joining Dedric and K.J. (2015-17).
With the NCAA Division I Council approving a one-time transfer waiver, Chandler Lawson will be eligible to play immediately next season.
The pair joins Earl Timberlake (G, 6-6, University of Miami), John Camden (F, 6-8, Wolfeboro, N.H.), Josh Minott (G, 6-9, Boca Raton, Fla.) and Sam Onu (C, 6-11, Malvern, Pa.) as additions to the Tigers roster for the 2021-22 campaign.
Chandler Lawson
In two seasons at Oregon after arriving as a four-star recruit and ESPN's 58th-ranked player, Chandler Lawson played in all 59 games for the Ducks and made 20 starts while averaging nearly 19 minutes per game. He was the only freshman to appear in all 31 games in 2019-20, as Oregon went 24-7 and was ranked 13th in the nation before the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his Oregon career, Lawson shot 51.5 percent from the field (106-206) and averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
While prepping in Memphis, Lawson helped East High School win three-straight state championships (2016-18), and he then won a fourth-straight at Wooddale High School as a senior in 2018-19. He scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Wooddale's win in the 2019 Class AA state championship game, and he scored 11 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and recorded two assists in the 2018 state championship game en route to the victory for East.
"Chandler is a Swiss Army knife on the court," Hardaway said. "On defense, on offense, with rebounding, by blocking shots, everything. He can fill a lot of different roles on our team, and he will be a great fit for us."
Johnathan Lawson
Ranked as a four-star recruit by both ESPN and Rivals and the 47th-best player nationally by ESPN, Johnathan Lawson became the first player in TSSAA history to win state championships at three different high schools. He scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out six assists in Houston High School's Class AAA state championship in 2021, and he also cut down the nets with East High School in 2018 and Wooddale High School in 2019. Wooddale also qualified for the state tournament in 2020 before it was canceled due to COVID-19.
Lawson averaged 17.3 points per game as a senior at Houston, which came after contributing 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game as a junior at Wooddale. He was the 2020 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and Class AA Mr. Basketball.
"Johnathan brings a high basketball IQ and the ability to make his teammates better," Hardaway explained. "He is super competitive, and, in fact, might be the most competitive player I've ever coached."
The Tigers won the 2021 NIT championship and finished the 2020-21 season with a 20-8 record. The 20-win season was Memphis' fourth in a row, including all three seasons under Hardaway. The Tigers are one of just 14 schools with four-straight 20-win seasons to their credit.
Hardaway has won 63 games in three seasons as Tigers head coach, which is the third-most among 50 head coaches hired before the 2018-19 season.
Men's Basketball: Penny Hardaway Press Conference-December 22, 2025
Monday, December 22
Men's Basketball: Dug McDaniel and Ahston Hardaway Press Conference- December 22, 2025
Monday, December 22
Men's Basketball: Penny Hardaway Press Conference-December 17, 2025
Wednesday, December 17
Men's Basketball: Dug McDaniel and Tariq Ingram Press Conference-December 17, 2025
Wednesday, December 17