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Mitchell High basketball recruit feels early bond with Saint Leo

 
Mitchell High School’s Lawrence Watt is averaging 21 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Mitchell High School’s Lawrence Watt is averaging 21 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Published Jan. 29, 2015

Sometimes high school athletes agonize over where to play in college. And sometimes, it's a pretty easy choice. Mitchell High School's Lawrence Watt falls into the latter category.

"When I went through my official visit (at Saint Leo University), they really made me feel like family," said Watt, a senior basketball player. "They made me feel like I was wanted there. It felt like a place I could prosper at and do well for four years."

That has become a growing trend in the Tampa Bay area as the Division II Sunshine State Conference school has amped up its recruiting presence.

"I think that we've found some really good players in the area and out of the area," Saint Leo men's basketball coach Lance Randall said. "It just happens to be that right now we've got a handful of guys that are from the greater Tampa area and we're really happy about them."

Next fall, Watt will join John Childs (River Ridge), Gary Hector (Lennard) and Elijah Blackman (Wiregrass Ranch) on the Lions roster.

Even though those three haven't had much time on the floor — Childs and Hector are freshmen, Blackman a sophomore — it was the familiarity with guys on the team that helped Watt make the decision.

"I've known John all my life, growing up with him and playing basketball," Watt said. "I obviously talked to him and he let me know everything that was going on. It just helps to know someone who's already there and being able to meet other guys on the team."

Watt should be able to jump right into the fold and help out the Lions after a solid high school career in which he played on varsity all four years.

"I can play any position on the court and do anything the team needs me to do," Watt said. "I know probably right off the bat as a freshman, I'm probably not going to be looked at as a big scorer or anything, but just the fact that I can rebound, play hard, I can play defense. I'm not just a one-dimensional player."

Through 22 games this season, Watt is averaging 21 points and 6.4 rebounds. His Mustangs entered the final week of the regular season 20-2 with an undefeated district record of 8-0.

"He's an attacker, he likes to slash and get to the rim," Mitchell coach Jared St. Charles said. "He's a good athlete, attacks and draws a lot of fouls getting to the basket."

Those qualities helped Randall fall in love with his new recruit.

It didn't take Saint Leo long to offer a spot to Watt when he participated in a camp over the summer.

"We thought he was a great fit for our culture and that's really important to how we recruit," Randall said. "He's a great athlete, has a high motor and plays really hard."

Watt will likely need to use that motor in order to see any immediate action at Saint Leo. As of Saturday, the Lions sit at a respectable 11-8.