University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Tyrin Lawrence
March 06, 2025 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Tyrin Lawrence grew up about 55 miles from Georgia's campus, in Monticello, which has a population of less than 3,000. The 6-foot-4 Georgia men's basketball guard spent four years at Vanderbilt, earning a degree and scoring more than 1,000 points, before transferring to Georgia for his final season.
Described by multiple teammates as the funniest player on the Bulldogs' roster, Lawrence speaks softly and doesn't say much. But as teammate Dylan James said, "He doesn't say a lot, but whenever he does say something, you better be listening because it's bound to be something funny."
Heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against Vanderbilt at Stegeman Coliseum, Lawrence started 20 times and is averaging 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game. He's scored in double figures 10 times, twice hitting his season-high of 15.
During a recent Quick Chat, Lawrence talked about being funny, doing well in school, his time playing in Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium (with the benches on the ends and the court above the first few rows of seats), and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: I've done these interviews with all of your teammates, and one of the questions I ask is, who's the funniest guy on the team? The past three or four guys have all said that you're the funniest. How do you feel about that? Do you try to be funny?
Lawrence: I don't really try to be funny. It's just, they probably like the way I sound. That's probably what it is.
Frierson: So, who do you think the funniest guy is?
Lawrence: I think it's probably Jordyn Kee. He's just always cracking jokes, especially when we're supposed to be serious. Yeah, that's the time he does it and it makes it even funnier.
Frierson: I know you've already graduated from Vanderbilt, which is obviously an excellent school, and you made a 4.0 here in the fall. Are you just super smart, or have you always taken as much pride in your academics as you do your basketball? Or both?
Lawrence: It kind of comes easy to me, school, and just growing up, my parents would reward me for getting good grades on my report card. I guess it started in high school and carried on to college.
Frierson: Is there one subject that has always come easily to you?
Lawrence: I would say it was math for me. I never really had an issue with math; it just came easy. I would say, it did up until college; middle school and high school math came pretty easy.
Frierson: You spent four years playing in Vanderbilt's gym, which is definitely different from most. How long did it take to get used to playing there?
Lawrence: It definitely takes a while. I don't think there is a gym I've been to that looks anything like it. I grew to like it over the time I was there. I kind of looked at it as a stage, and the people were there to see me on stage. It's pretty cool to play on, but over the years, I've seen a few guys fall over the edge, like when they were chasing loose balls.
Frierson: Is that on your mind at all when you're playing, that you might fall off the edge?
Lawrence: You definitely have to be aware that you could possibly fall off the court.
Frierson: Are you a fan of the Nashville hot chicken?
Lawrence: For me, I don't really like hot stuff, so I stayed away from the hot chicken. I've tried it and it definitely isn't bad, I'm just not a fan of the hot stuff.
Frierson: If you could get in a time machine and go into the past or the future, when and where would you like to go?
Lawrence: I probably would like to go backward to a point in time where I can watch Michael Jordan play. Just hearing about it, it's definitely something I would like to have seen.
Frierson: Would you prefer to go back to his days at North Carolina when he was about your age, or to when he was with the Chicago Bulls?
Lawrence: I'd say back to when he was with the Bulls, during either the first or second three-peat.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Lawrence: In 10 years? I'm hopefully at my son's basketball game, cheering him on.
Frierson: Do you already have a son, or is this a fictional son at this point?
Lawrence: I have a son, Kylan [smiles].
Frierson: Will you be coaching him?
Lawrence: Nah, I'm going to stick to the stands. I'm definitely looking forward to that day.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Tyrin Lawrence grew up about 55 miles from Georgia's campus, in Monticello, which has a population of less than 3,000. The 6-foot-4 Georgia men's basketball guard spent four years at Vanderbilt, earning a degree and scoring more than 1,000 points, before transferring to Georgia for his final season.
Described by multiple teammates as the funniest player on the Bulldogs' roster, Lawrence speaks softly and doesn't say much. But as teammate Dylan James said, "He doesn't say a lot, but whenever he does say something, you better be listening because it's bound to be something funny."
Heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against Vanderbilt at Stegeman Coliseum, Lawrence started 20 times and is averaging 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game. He's scored in double figures 10 times, twice hitting his season-high of 15.
During a recent Quick Chat, Lawrence talked about being funny, doing well in school, his time playing in Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium (with the benches on the ends and the court above the first few rows of seats), and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: I've done these interviews with all of your teammates, and one of the questions I ask is, who's the funniest guy on the team? The past three or four guys have all said that you're the funniest. How do you feel about that? Do you try to be funny?
Lawrence: I don't really try to be funny. It's just, they probably like the way I sound. That's probably what it is.
Frierson: So, who do you think the funniest guy is?
Lawrence: I think it's probably Jordyn Kee. He's just always cracking jokes, especially when we're supposed to be serious. Yeah, that's the time he does it and it makes it even funnier.
Frierson: I know you've already graduated from Vanderbilt, which is obviously an excellent school, and you made a 4.0 here in the fall. Are you just super smart, or have you always taken as much pride in your academics as you do your basketball? Or both?
Lawrence: It kind of comes easy to me, school, and just growing up, my parents would reward me for getting good grades on my report card. I guess it started in high school and carried on to college.
Frierson: Is there one subject that has always come easily to you?
Lawrence: I would say it was math for me. I never really had an issue with math; it just came easy. I would say, it did up until college; middle school and high school math came pretty easy.
Frierson: You spent four years playing in Vanderbilt's gym, which is definitely different from most. How long did it take to get used to playing there?
Lawrence: It definitely takes a while. I don't think there is a gym I've been to that looks anything like it. I grew to like it over the time I was there. I kind of looked at it as a stage, and the people were there to see me on stage. It's pretty cool to play on, but over the years, I've seen a few guys fall over the edge, like when they were chasing loose balls.
Frierson: Is that on your mind at all when you're playing, that you might fall off the edge?
Lawrence: You definitely have to be aware that you could possibly fall off the court.
Frierson: Are you a fan of the Nashville hot chicken?
Lawrence: For me, I don't really like hot stuff, so I stayed away from the hot chicken. I've tried it and it definitely isn't bad, I'm just not a fan of the hot stuff.
Frierson: If you could get in a time machine and go into the past or the future, when and where would you like to go?
Lawrence: I probably would like to go backward to a point in time where I can watch Michael Jordan play. Just hearing about it, it's definitely something I would like to have seen.
Frierson: Would you prefer to go back to his days at North Carolina when he was about your age, or to when he was with the Chicago Bulls?
Lawrence: I'd say back to when he was with the Bulls, during either the first or second three-peat.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Lawrence: In 10 years? I'm hopefully at my son's basketball game, cheering him on.
Frierson: Do you already have a son, or is this a fictional son at this point?
Lawrence: I have a son, Kylan [smiles].
Frierson: Will you be coaching him?
Lawrence: Nah, I'm going to stick to the stands. I'm definitely looking forward to that day.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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