"Run It Back"!: Jaylen Lawal Set to Return to Tulsa

PG Jaylen Lawal Returns to Tulsa for Year Two

The VIP Crew alumni, Tulsa’s sensational freshman guard, Jaylen Lawal returns to

Tulsa for year two, following NIT Championship run! Lawal first appeared on The VIP

Crew page as a high school senior. On April 9th , the highly touted guard needed just 2

words via an Instagram post to announce he was staying put at Tulsa, “I’m Back!”

Following a highly successful freshman season, all eyes will be on Lawal and his innate

ability to score next season!

The VIP Crew: Congratulations on a great season. Obviously, it ended in

disappointment, losing to Auburn in the NIT Championship game in overtime.

Despite that, how would you summarize your freshman season at Tulsa?

Lawal: I would summarize my year as a success. It was definitely a good first year

experience and I learned a lot from this year. I’m glad I had a great team that helped

me, pushed me to do things I didn’t think I would be able to do before.

The VIP Crew: You announced your plans to return to Tulsa for your sophomore

season. Was that a difficult or easy decision to make, and ultimately, what made

Tulsa remain home for you?

Lawal: The decision was definitely not easy. I just feel like the long-term goal for me to

stay this year will help me a lot. I trust the coaching staff in my development.

The VIP Crew: Not only were you a fan favorite when you entered the game, but

you provided a spark to the offense with your natural shooting and scoring

ability. How much did this factor build your confidence throughout the season?

Lawal: It really impacted my confidence. I knew when I got in the game, not only did my

coaches have confidence in me, but my teammates, and the crowd did as well. Being a

freshman and playing on a team that won 30 games, helps me understand what it really

means to win. I was held to high expectations, and I wanted to live up to those

expectations. As a freshman, I feel like I met and or exceeded my coaches and fans

expectations of what I’d be able to do this year.

The VIP Crew: How do you use your personal and team accomplishments of last

season and apply them into your growth and maturity for the upcoming season?

Lawal: I think knowing the culture of winning will really impact me to make the right

decisions next year. We will have a completely new team, so we will have to get used to

one another. That being said, I feel like I will have to take on more of a leadership role

and show the new players what the coaches expect out of us, and what I expect from us

as well; especially coming off the success of last season.

The VIP Crew: You won 3 “Freshman of the Week” awards this season. Do you

feel you need to do anything in particular to avoid a sophomore slump?

Lawal: I just gotta keep working and if a slump happens, I gotta stay to course and

focus on the big goal for me. If I put in the consistent work that I’m supposed to put in,

then a slump won’t happen.

The VIP Crew: What do you feel were the keys for your game to translate from

high school to the collegiate level so smoothly?

Lawal: My consistent work ethic and physical game from high school to college was

great. My coaches and many others told me that I had a college ready body. I never

knew what that meant until I got here. Once I got on campus, I understood exactly what

they meant. My offensive ability translated as well to this level. I love to score, and my

coaches and teammates allow me the ability to score in many different ways and areas.

The VIP Crew: I appreciate you tapping back in with The Crew! We are definitely

proud of you and the season you and your team had. Is there anything else you’d

like to add?

Lawal: Thank you! I want to thank my mom, dad, and all of the coaches I’ve had along

the way!