When he’s on the bench, he has the attitude of a player that's a star. He’s loud, he hits his chest, and he lets the crowd know how he’s feeling when his teammates make a huge play.
Lawson Schaffer, a junior guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide has become a fan favorite. In the 2017-2018 season, Schaffer hasn’t seen much playing time, but everyone feels his presence when he's on the court.
In high school, Schaffer was named 6A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA). On top of that, he was named to the 2015 boys “Super 5” team also by the ASWA. Being a standout at Cullman High School, he averaged 21.4 points and 7.8 assists as a senior. He finished his career with 1, 997 points.
Although his talent traveled with him to Tuscaloosa, the other talent was better. Not playing much, the crowd loves it when the coach calls his name. Chants from the student section can be heard, “Lawson, Lawson, Lawson.” Fans love it when Schaffer shoots the three-ball, although he misses some, he also makes them. That's the moment Coleman Coliseum erupts.
It is the same common story throughout the country, everyone loves the walk-on, and they instantly become the fan favorite. The star players love getting them the ball and explode when they make a basket. Despite the score, the walk-on impacts the game one way or another.
Schaffer doesn’t get much playing time, but he has taken the role on like a champion. He is the perfect example of how a walk-on player should act. He has the passion, the heart, and leadership that a lot of players lack. He is the perfect teammate.
To give him credit, he’s always been a fan favorite, not just in college. In high school, he won the AL.com fan poll for Mr. Basketball. He ended up finishing fourth overall behind future teammate Dazon Ingram.
