Recruiting Report: Austin Lyons (2018)
Lapel’s season hasn’t been going as expected this year but that hasn’t deterred senior Austin Lyons from having a big year. The 6’2 shooting guard has improved his game immensely as has seen an uptick of interested colleges this season. Lyons is a high academic player who could be a steal for a small school.
Lyons is receiving interest from Anderson, Hanover, Indiana Tech, Manchester, The Citadel (SC), Trine, and Rose-Hulman. Lyons visited Trine last year and Anderson and Hanover this year. He is planning on taking an official visit to Hanover sometime in the near future.
Even though it is a down year for Lapel, Lyons is still having a great year. He is averaging 16 points a game this year and his confidence is through the roof when he has the ball in his hands.
“I’m scoring more than I have in the years past and have been an issue for some teams this year just because of my confidence in my shooting ability,” Lyons said. “I have begun to read passes better and get some touches on the ball for deflections even though we may not always get the steal. We haven’t won as many games as we think we should have. Some of the games we have just flat out gotten beat then others it came down to the final minute and could have gone either way. I will continue to push my guys and try to win these last games but the tournament is what really matters because if you lose you don’t get a second chance.”
Lyons was a key player last year but due to some roster turnover, he has had to take on a bigger role this year within the team. He has used the bigger role to improve on some key things in his game, some of which will be very helpful once he enters college.
“I think I have become a more consistent shooter than I was last year,” Lyons said. “I have taken more shots obviously this year than last year but my percentage is high with the amount of shots I have taken. My ball handling has improved a bit as well because I am having to do more handling this year. Also, my rebounding has been there much more this year. Which I have been told when I rebound, we have a good chance at winning.”
Lyons is a hard-nosed player with a college ready body and still has a bit of room to grow yet. Lyons has a good pull-up jumper and is able to drive and create for himself. Doesn’t drive at the rim too much, but rather loves to shoot the jumper. He is able to hit from distance as well keeping defenses on edge. Lyons is sure to have a host of suitors for his play style.
“I want to study engineering for sure,” Lyons said. “Location doesn’t matter for me as long as I get a good education. I’d love to play basketball where ever I decide I go even if it means walking on or what not so I will definitely peruse my basketball career. But for me and what my family has been telling me, basketball can only get you so far, education is what makes you.”