Manhattan to Manhattan: Omari Lawrence Looks for Success at Kansas State

When former St. John’s swingman Omari Lawrence looks around and takes a moment to absorb the landscape that surrounds Concordia, Kansas, he is reminded that he is far from the brick buildings and concrete streets of his hometown, the Bronx.

“Things in Kansas are slow and quiet. It’s mostly farmland,” said Lawrence. “I’m usually either at school, working on my game, or studying.”

Here in Kansas, there is no rumble of subway trains underfoot or corner stores on every block. The state has no major professional sports teams from the four major sports and is bisected by Interstate 70, which runs from Missouri in the east to Colorado in the west. The entire state of Kansas has a population of 2.8 million, roughly one third the population of New York City alone.

This city kid, born and raised, has officially traded the playgrounds of New York City for the fields of eastern Kansas, but the goal is still the same: play high-major Division I basketball.

Lawrence starred at St. Raymond’s (NY) his junior year of high school, averaging 18.2 points per game before transferring to South Kent (CT) for his senior season.

In the summer before his senior year, Lawrence tore his labrum at an NBA Top 100 camp, causing him to miss the summer AAU circuit and a few games that coming season. While rehabbing the shoulder, he gained some unwanted weight and scouts argued he had lost the explosiveness that made him so effective at St. Raymond’s.

The lefty still garnered high-major interest from schools such as UConn, Louisville, and Xavier, but committed to play for former St. John’s coach Norm Roberts in August, 2008. He was part of a four-man class that also included current graduating seniors Dwight Hardy, Justin Brownlee, and now-rising junior Malik Stith.

At the time, Roberts was praised for keeping highly-touted talent in New York City, and the Hardy-Lawrence combination became the face of a new era. Perhaps this was the moment when St. John’s would surge back as a major recruiting force in the tri-state area.

“I chose St. John’s because of the coaching staff,” Lawrence said, looking back on his recruitment. “They made me feel like family. Plus, I wanted to stay close to home.”

But, his freshman season in Queens was not without struggles.

Playing just over nine minutes per game, Lawrence averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds off the bench for the Red Storm. The pace of the college game was difficult for him, at times, and he still had not shed the extra pounds he put on following his shoulder injury, listed at 215 pounds.

“Transitioning from high school to college is a big step,” he said. “I’ve learned that nothing is given to you. You have to work hard every day and continuously get better.”

After Norm Roberts was dismissed following the 2009-2010 season, Lawrence was at a crossroads. He and Roberts were close, saying that they always had “open lines of communication” and were always clear with each other.

“When he left, my family and I wanted a new change of environment for me,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence said he talked with Steve Lavin a few times after he was hired as the new head coach at St. John’s, but the lure of starting over somewhere new was too strong. He filed his papers to transfer in May, 2010.

Once back on the market, Kansas State and head coach Frank Martin were the first to reach out to Lawrence.

“I liked the honesty coach had with me. [He told me] I would have to come there and really work hard and earn everything I receive,” Lawrence said.

Xavier was once again in the mix, along with Southern California, but he ultimately signed to play with the first school to court him, and was headed to play for the Wildcats.

Lawrence spent this past season at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas, working on his game and hitting the books. “My coach out here has been able to train me hard every day and get me ready for Kansas State,” he said.

And the hard work is paying off.

The high school weight gain is officially off. Lawrence has slimmed down to 200 pounds and is toned up, becoming visibly more muscular and athletic. He is looking to recapture the explosiveness and scoring ability he had before the shoulder injury set him back.

Wildcats head coach Frank Martin is known as an enforcer who expects a lot from his players, and the hard-working Lawrence hopes to fit in well. He joins a program that has traditionally recruited New York talent, including graduating senior Curtis Kelly, who found success after transferring from UConn in 2008.

“They need a slasher and, if I work hard, everything will work out,” Lawrence said.

With an increase in minutes from the time he saw at St. John’s, the Bronx native will more readily adjust to the pace of Division I ball and could flourish at Kansas State. His muscular frame, paired with his new-found explosiveness, will benefit him on the offensive end when he attacks the basket. He is still working to polish a consistent mid-range game, but is looking forward to working with the Kansas State staff to grow as a player.

“The community welcomed me with open arms here and never made me feel like an outcast. I’m just thankful Kansas State is giving me a second chance.” -Omari Lawrence

At St. John’s, he was strongest on the defensive end and that will translate well for next season. His hustle cannot be underestimated and, just like on the offensive end, his new physical shape will help him excel.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect coming out here, but I’m happy with my decision,” said Lawrence of deciding to go to school in the Midwest. “The community welcomed me with open arms here and never made me feel like an outcast. I’m just thankful Kansas State is giving me a second chance.”

When Lawrence takes the floor next year in Wildcat purple and silver, it will still be in a Manhattan, just a much smaller, skyscraper-free Kansas version. He continues to build his support network of family and friends, who he credits for having helped him cope with his big transition. Among them is good friend and graduating St. John’s guard Dwight Hardy, a fellow Bronx native who spent time at junior college as well in his career.

“[Hardy] told me that this is just a new start for me,” Lawrence said.

And, as grand as the change seems, that is exactly how the former Johnny is looking at it: “just a new start.”