IU Basketball Recruiting: Class of 2023 Names to Know — In-State Guard Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn

When it comes to in-state guards, the next big thing resides up in enemy territory.

Truth be told, although he is just now finishing his freshman year of high school, Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn is already a big deal.  He had an impressive first season on the hardwood, and Gibbs-Lawhorn was already featured in a Gatorade commercial that included the likes of Michael Jordan and Peyton Manning.

And although Gibbs-Lawhorn is from Lafayette, Ind., he attends a school that recently produced for IU.

Gibbs-Lawhorn hails from that city’s McCutcheon High School, which of course sent Rob Phinisee to Bloomington in the class of 2018.

While as a freshman it is too early to be overly concerned with which colleges are showing Gibbs-Lawhorn the most interest, we know Indiana has been in contact and watched him play in person.

IU assistant Bruiser Flint was in attendance when McCutcheon faced Lafayette Jeff and another recruiting target, Brooks Barnhizer.

All Gibbs-Lawhorn did that night was pour in 28 points while making 11-of-16 from the field overall including 5-of-8 from long range.

And while that was an exceptional night for the 6-foot scoring point guard, it wasn’t that far off from a normal game for what was an eye-catching freshman campaign.

Playing alongside Phinisee’s brother Joe, Gibbs-Lawhorn poured in 21 points per game while adding 3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and .9 steals per contest.  Joe Phinisee, a junior, added 11.5 points per game as the backcourt duo both earned all-conference honors.

Despite being so young, Gibbs-Lawhorn was reasonably efficient, making 49 percent of his attempts from the field.  Perhaps most impressive within that figure was Gibbs-Lawhorn’s accuracy from behind that arc where he knocked down 46 percent of 136 attempts.  He also made 75 percent of his hoists from the free throw line.

Obviously McCutcheon put the ball in his hands and asked Gibbs-Lawhorn to score the ball — and he did that very well.  As a point guard his development will include better finding teammates to improve on a 1-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio.

That development is sure to come for a young player that already has elite quickness and enough athleticism and speed to create the space and separation he needs.

The bottom line — Gibbs-Lawhorn more than looked like he belonged as a freshman.  He was one of the best players on the floor every night going up against guys much older and physically more mature than him.  His ceiling as a high school player is incredibly high.

While there are no rankings yet for the class of 2023, Gibbs Lawhorn is sure to be found in the upper tier of point guards nationally in the coming months.

Gibbs-Lawhorn plays with the Indiana Elite AAU program during the spring and summer.

See also:  Gibbs-Lawhorn talks freshman season and recruiting.

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