Erin Lawless is considered one of the top power forwards in the nation.
She is a player most often described as a warrior, and hosts an impressive
mix of inside and outside skills. Her best game is at power forward where
few are her equal, but she is athletic enough to play small forward.
Weaknesses to work on before hitting Purdue will be working on her
outside game, including ballhandling and perimeter shooting. Solid on
defense as well, Lawless can function as a defensive stopper.
One of 48 girls selected to play in the inaugural USA Women's Youth
Development Festival, Lawless helped lead the North team to a 5-0 record
and the gold medal. She averaged nearly 21 minutes per game and was
second on the team in scoring and fifth overall (11.8 points per game),
while pulling down close to four rebounds a game.
In the 2000-01 sophomore season, Fenwick won the IHSA Class AA girls state
championship 65-32 over Naperville. Lawless had a game-high 14 points and
five rebounds. She was the top scorer during the three game state
championship, averaging 17.7 points.
Erin made a verbal commitment to Purdue on August 20, 2002 over Iowa
State. Before narrowing her list to two schools, her final list also
included Penn State, Michigan State and Stanford. She will study forensic
science.
2-23-02...Postseason Update: Erin Lawless (Fenwick HS, IL) - Season over.
Lawless had a shot at sending the game into overtime, but her three-pointer
bounced around on the rim before rolling off the side of the basket, giving
Mother McAuley (23-10) the 50-47 win. Lawless had 22 points and seven rebounds.
Fenwick ends the season 30-4.
2-20-02...Postseason Update: Erin Lawless (Fenwick HS, IL) - Next game: 2/21 vs.
Mother McAuley at Eisenhower HS. For the third season in a row, Fenwick has
reached the 30-win mark. Fenwick is now 30-3 after a 63-43 sectional win over
four seed Sandburg. Erin Lawless had 20 points and 10 boards in the win.
2-18-02...Erin Lawless and Candace Parker have been named to the Chicago Sun-Times
all-area team. Both Lawless and Parker came close to being named the MVP, an
award instead won by Johanna Solverson. Parker is at the head of a sophomore
class that is being touted as Illinois' best class in years. Other sophomores
on the all-area team include Fenwick guard Kristin Heidloff, Marian Catholic
center Lauren Lacey, Trinity forward Caprice Smith and Neuqua Valley forward
Lindsay Wisdom.
2-17-02...Postseason Update: Erin Lawless (Fenwick HS, IL) - Next game: 2/18 vs.
Sandburg at Eisenhower HS. Fenwick has cruised to two easy wins over Bremen
(91-34) and Oak Park (72-39). Limited by foul trouble most of the game, Lawless
finished with 15 points against Oak Park. She had 18 points and seven rebounds
in the opener against Bremen. Fenwick is currently at 29-3 on the season.
2-4-02...Some prospects were spotted at the Wisconsin game on Sunday. Katie
Gearlds was in the house spending some time with 6'2 Chicago Fenwick forward
Erin Lawless.
1-23-02...The McDonald's Girls Prep Classic in Chicago wrapped up on Monday with
two great games. No. 1 Fenwick beat the No. 1 team in Ohio, Beavercreek, 52-49.
The win snapped Beavercreek's 41-game winning streak. For Fenwick, 6'2 junior
Erin Lawless scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. For Beavercreek, 6'6
junior center Alison Bales had 27 points. Bales was recently seen in Mackey
Arena on an unoffical visit for the Ohio State game, while Lawless, according
to the Chicago Sun-Times, has an offer on the table from Purdue.
1-20-02...At the McDonald's Girls Prep Classic in Chicago...Katie Gearlds led
all scorers with 27 points in a 65-49 loss to Chicago Fenwick (21-1). Purdue
target Erin Lawless had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Fenwick, playing on a
tender ankle.
12-23-01...Steve Tucker of the Chicago Sun-Times reports Purdue has offered
junior power forward Erin Lawless of Chicago Fenwick. Lawless has gone form an
awkward, rookie basketball player in the seventh grade to being rated as one
of the top ten players in her class. Lawless has been invited to the Nike
All-American Camp for the past two years, and has been named an all-american
by most major scouting services. She averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and four
assists as a sophomore, and 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds as a freshman.
USA Basketball Developmental team coach Mike Armstrong (high school coach of
former Boiler Katie Douglas)..."The kid is just a warrior. I think it's a
compliment to say that she is a blue-collar worker. If you need a rebound, she
gets it. If you need a steal, she gets it. If you need a defensive stop, she
gets it. She just battles all the time and I love players like that. She had
the versatility to play both inside and outside." (8/30/02)
Scouting report by Old Gold Free Press writers Capri Small and Bob Sternvogel
from the Nike All-American Camp..."Absolutely fearless - her warrior mentality
may be her chief asset. Willing to post up against bigger girls, and to take
quicker players one-on-one, she was seldom unable to finish. Sometimes
appeared to be out of control as she plowed over opponents on her way to the
basket, then ran back down court wearing a "who, me?" expression. Did display
some finesse. Handles the ball well for a player of her size, and went in
nicely for one "finger roll" deuce. Later got good position on an offensive
rebounding opportunity, leapt just high enough to gain possession, and scored
on the put-back. Not always successful on the boards, but never gave up when
going for a carom. Has a good turnaround move in her shooting repertoire.
Although Erin's apparently most comfortable playing inside, her height won't
always allow her to dominate down low on the college level. She appears to
realize this, as she proved she could score from behind the arc."
(8/04/02)
Scouting report by Old Gold Free Press writer Bob Richards from the Nike
All-American Camp..."Not a very good ballhandler yet, but has time to
improve. Fearless enough to go straight at 6'5 Gillian Goring, but not enough
experience to keep half of her shots from being blocked. She can really get
up and down the court in a hurry. Lots of promise, but seems to be between
positions right now. Reach: 7'08, Wingspan: 6'01." (7/18/00)
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