More Than a Game: Jermaine Lawrence, a Father's Return, and the Rise of SUNO's Defensive Force
In ten games, the sophomore wing from Southern University at New Orleans has already left an undeniable mark on the program — on the court and in his heart.
When Edward Lawrence walked through the locker room door at Southern University at New Orleans on Valentine's Day, he wasn't just stepping into a gymnasium. He was stepping back into his son's life — and watching him, for the very first time, compete at the level he always knew was possible.
"February 14 is a day I'll never forget," Edward said. "First time I ever saw my son play ball. When I walked through that door to the locker room and saw the expression on his face — I'll never forget it. His face was filled with joy, happiness, and excitement. He seemed like he wanted to cry, but I knew he wouldn't, because he doesn't like to look weak."
That moment — raw, unscripted, years in the making — captured something far bigger than basketball. It was a reunion. A statement. A reminder that redemption has no expiration date.
The Player: A Wing Who Changes Games
Jermaine Lawrence, No. 4, is a sophomore wing for the SUNO Knights — and in just one semester of action, he has already reshaped what this program's defense looks like. High-flying, lightning-quick, and relentlessly energetic, Lawrence brings an elite combination of perimeter awareness and paint protection that is rare at any level.
In ten games this season, Lawrence has logged 248 minutes while averaging 9.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. But the number that truly defines his impact is 30 — the number of blocked shots he has recorded, ranking seventh in the conference despite playing only a single semester of collegiate basketball. He added 19 steals, creating havoc from baseline to baseline in a way that opposing offenses simply were not prepared for.
His game-by-game production tells the story of a player still finding his ceiling. Lawrence erupted for 11 rebounds and four blocks in the season opener against Tougaloo on January 10. He posted six blocks apiece against Paul Quinn and Mobile, asserting himself as the anchor of SUNO's interior defense. His efficiency from the field has been equally impressive — he shot .627 from the floor across all ten games, with a sizzling 5-of-6 performance against Paul Quinn (.833) serving as a particular highlight.
What makes Lawrence truly special is his ability to guard on the perimeter and then instantly collapse to protect the paint — a two-way skill that is the hallmark of elite defensive wings. He can track ball handlers in space, contest threes at the arc, and still beat everyone to the rim when a drive develops. For a program looking to build an identity around defensive toughness, Lawrence is that identity.
A Season-Best Performance to Remember
Lawrence saved his finest statistical outing for last — or at least the most recent. Against Morris on February 19, Lawrence delivered a jaw-dropping all-around performance: 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting, 15 rebounds, six assists, six steals, and five blocks. It was the kind of line that stops a locker room cold when it goes up on the board — the kind that makes coaches and teammates alike look at each other and nod.
But it was the game five days earlier — February 14 against Dillard — where the numbers almost felt secondary.
Valentine's Day: A Surprise 20 Years in the Making
Edward Lawrence had never seen his son play basketball. Life had taken a devastating turn — he spent 20 years in prison, away from Jermaine, away from the family, away from every milestone a father aches to witness. But this year, Edward was released. And the first thing on his list was making it to a SUNO Knights game.
He didn't just buy a ticket. He made a call.
"I reached out to Coach Matthews, and that's all it took," Edward said. "I didn't have to call back to remind him or anything — it was one phone call. I told him what my family was trying to do and he made it happen. I'm forever grateful to SUNO."
Jermaine Lawrence and his family in the locker room ahead of the Dillard game on February 14.
Head Coach James A. Matthews, III didn't hesitate. When Edward Lawrence called explaining he wanted to surprise his son — that he had never seen him play, that years of separation had finally come to an end — Matthews immediately began coordinating the moment. On February 14, with Valentine's Day as the backdrop, Edward walked through the locker room door to find Jermaine on the other side.
"I love making people around me feel loved, and I know surprises do that," Edward said. "I loved every moment in that gym that day. Nothing else mattered — that day was all about him."
On the court that night against Dillard, Jermaine delivered 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, drew 10 free throw attempts, and added five rebounds and two blocks — a performance fueled, perhaps, by something no stat sheet can measure.
A Bond That Never Broke
Twenty years is a long time. But Edward Lawrence is quick to point out that the foundation between a father and son can survive distances — even the kind enforced by prison walls.
"I was a father to all my kids before I went to prison, so I had a great bond with my son," Edward said. "He was the only boy, so I spent a lot of time with him. Our relationship is much stronger now because he knows firsthand that his dad's got his back — if he's doing the right thing."
Ed Lawrence with Jermaine and his sister.
That last phrase matters. It speaks to the kind of tough, unconditional love that shapes young men — the kind that says: I'm here for you, and I believe in who you're becoming. For Jermaine Lawrence, the sophomore wing who blocks shots, crashes boards, and plays with a relentless motor every time he steps on the floor, knowing his father is watching — and that his father is proud — is everything.
Coach Matthews: Building More Than a Team
For Coach James A. Matthews, III, the February 14 moment was a reflection of what he believes the SUNO program should stand for — a place where young men are developed as people, not just players.
"When Edward reached out to me, I didn't think twice," Coach Matthews said. "That's what we do here. We care about our guys beyond the game. Jermaine is a special player — his impact on our defense has been immediate and real — but moments like this shape young men's character. Watching him and his father share that moment was one of the highlights of my coaching career."
Matthews has watched Lawrence become a cornerstone of the Knights' defensive scheme in a remarkably short time. His ability to deter drives, alter shots, and pull down defensive rebounds at a 7.5-per-game clip has given SUNO a dimension it simply didn't have before. With 30 blocks in ten games — seventh in the conference — Lawrence has served notice that SUNO's paint is no longer open for business.
"Jermaine plays the game the right way," Matthews added. "He competes every possession. He doesn't take plays off. And when you combine that kind of energy with his athleticism and his ability to protect the rim, you have something special."
A Living Witness
There is a saying in sports that the best teams are built on shared sacrifice and a common purpose. For the SUNO Knights, Jermaine Lawrence has become a symbol of both — a player who gives everything on the court, and a son who has weathered everything off it.
His father, watching from the stands on Valentine's Day — and on every day that follows — carries a message that extends well beyond basketball.
"It's never too late to make things right," Edward Lawrence said. "I'm a living witness to that. Life is all what you make it to be. God gives everyone the same opportunity when He wakes you up. You just got to want it."
Jermaine and Ed stand with Coach Matthews and teammates after the Dillard game.
Jermaine Lawrence clearly wants it. Every block, every steal, every rebound, every sprint across the paint to protect his teammates — all of it speaks to a young man who has something to prove and someone in the stands who finally gets to watch.
The Knights have ten games in the books. Whatever comes next, No. 4 will be ready.
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