After averaging 9.7 points in his freshman season at UMass Lowell, Lance Crawford decided he needed a change of scenery. The next stop on his basketball odyssey took him to South Alabama, where he will sit out the upcoming year due to NCAA transfer rules. He spoke with USAJaguars.com about why he chose South Alabama and how he'll handle not playing this season.

When did you start playing basketball?
I started when I was young—I'd say, five years old. My dad put a ball in my hand. I started out playing rec league and kept going to AAU and even higher levels of AAU. My dad taught me the fundamentals of the game and everything I needed to know. When I was a kid, he would tie my right hand behind my back and make me dribble with my left hand—I physically couldn't pull my right arm around. That's how I got my ball-handling ability.

Take me through your journey to get to South Alabama
I didn't really get recruited in high school until late. It picked up after my junior summer—my last AAU summer—and then going into my senior year, I started to get calls from a couple of schools. I went to UMass Lowell—those are great guys over there and they taught me a lot. I just felt like it was time for a change in my life. I came here on my visit and met Coach (Matthew) Graves, the staff and all the guys on the team. I felt like I was at home. I couldn't pass on that opportunity so on the last day of my visit I committed.

Why did you choose South Alabama?
The coaching staff, coming from Butler, a winning program, they know what it takes to get to the highest level of college basketball. I felt like the guys we have here, we have the potential to be great if we all play together and to our capabilities. We make something special happen.

What were you looking for in a school when you were transferring?
A place that had a good academic environment—I really value my education. Basketball is going to end at some point so you need something to fall back on. From a basketball standpoint, a school I could help win right away. A school that I felt like needed me and wanted me, and where I had a good connection with the coaches.

What's the biggest thing you took away from your freshman year?
How much time you have to put in off the court to really make leaps and bounds on the court, as far as film and the weight room and how much that translates to everything on the court and how much easier it makes the game for you. In high school, you didn't really do too much film work or strength and conditioning. Looking back on it, that really helped me a lot, when I started putting a lot of focus on that, I started to see improvement in my game.

How will you approach this season knowing you won't be able to play?
Trying to get better and motivating my teammates. Improving personally and in practice, pushing the guys so they can be the best they can be on the court when they play, and picking them up because there will be some good times and bad times, so making sure the morale of the team is good and everybody stays motivated.

I knew when I transferred I'd have to sit out, but I'm excited for the opportunity to get better and work on my game for a whole year, get better mentally and physically so I can give so much more to the team next year and be ready right away to make an impact.

How would you describe your playing style?
I'm a true point guard that looks for my teammates first, but if I need to score, I can. I just do whatever my team needs me to do to win. I really don't care about personal accolades or achievements—as long as the team is winning that's all I care about. I could go out and not score, but if I get 10 assists, that's a great game to me.

What do you consider to be the strongest part of your game?
My ability to fill in whatever spot needs to be filled in on the court. If you need me to be an elite defender and stop the best player on the court, I can do that. If you need me to be a pass-first point guard and set plays up, I can do that. If you need me to score a little extra, I feel like I can do that. My versatility on the court is something I pride myself in.

What do you try to accomplish during the offseason workouts?
Getting the most out of every single workout. Pushing myself to the limit, making sure I don't leave anything out there and putting in maximum effort every time I go out on the court.

What part of your game are you working on the most leading up to next season?
I really want to get my shot better—watching Steph Curry inspired me to get like him with my jump shot. If I can get my jump shot consistent so that it's a knock-down every time I catch it, I feel like that'll be great for my game. Every single day in the gym, I'm getting up shots, whether it's before practice or after practice. Also, my explosiveness and keeping in shape since I won't be playing.

What do you enjoy the most of the game of basketball?
The competitiveness. You don't know what the other person's story is or why they're doing it, you're out there and you want to win and nothing is going to stop you. You just keep going until you win and your team succeeds.

Who has had the biggest influence on your basketball life?
I'd probably say my first AAU coaches: Coach Curtis and Coach Al. They instilled a work ethic in me from when I was in fourth grade, to never stop, go for what you want, always stay on the straight path and stay away from any negativity. Work your butt off—nothing comes easy in life and you're not going to get anything in life by just sitting there. You have to work for everything.

What do you expect of yourself this season?
To be a better player, person and teammate—a better me all around.

What assistant coach recruited you and what was your relationship like during that process?
Coach (Darnell) Archey. I had a good relationship with him because I felt like he was in my place at one time so he knows exactly what being a college athlete is like. He had a great career at Butler. The fact that I'm able to learn from him and he's a great shooter, which is something I want to be. Anything he tells me, I take to heart. I respect him a lot.

What professional player do you try to model your game after?
I try to take bits and pieces from a lot of players' games, like Manu Ginobli's Euro-step and Chris Paul's court vision and leadership abilities. I can't really pinpoint one player.

Quick Hits
Favorite NBA team: Miami Heat
Favorite college team growing up: North Carolina
Favorite sport other than basketball: I play golf in my free time, but I watch college football
Favorite musical artists: Baz the Nomad, Drew Swace, Kendrick Lamar, J Cole and Lil Wayne
Favorite class: Psychology
Favorite movie: Mr. Nobody
Favorite video game: FIFA
Favorite social media: I'm not a big social media guy because I think our generation is too wrapped up in that—we need to enjoy one another and not our online personality, but if I had to say, it would be Twitter
Favorite TV show: Martin

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