The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Lavender Brings Basketball Pedigree to UAB
12/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
Deion Lavender had options to take his athletic passion in another direction. The truth is, though, the Alton, Ill., native never considered any other option outside the basketball court.
"Basketball is something that I grew up loving," Lavender said. "My dad played basketball in college, at a smaller Division III college in Illinois. It's something that's always been in my family. I just fell in love with it at a young age."
Lavender, a Southern Illinois University transfer, who is beginning his first season in the UAB men's basketball program, certainly learned the game through his father. DeLeon Lavender, who played at Eureka College, put a basketball in his son's hands at an early age and became his AAU coach soon after the younger Lavender began elementary school. He was also his junior high coach and was on the staff when Deion played at Marquette Catholic High in Alton.
Deion admits he leaned heavily on his father.
"With him being on the bench, it gave me another set of eyes," Lavender said. "Sometimes he'd see things that I didn't see. When I came to the bench at halftime or a timeout, he really helped me. When I got in the game, I knew what to look for or knew what the defense was doing. It really helped me out and gave me a better view."
What DeLeon saw in his spot from the bench was his son turning into a really good basketball player. Deion said he didn't make much of an impact on the high school level until his junior season. But he was a star player by the conclusion of his senior season. Lavender averaged 25 points, while hitting nearly 50 percent from outside the 3-point stripe, as a senior. He scored 53 of his team's 59 points in one game.
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard started slowly in his first college season but emerged as one of the team's top players by the end of last season. Eleven of his 13 freshman starts came after the team entered Missouri Valley Conference play. He averaged 8.6 points per game -- third best on the team -- during MVC play and hit double figures in scoring in seven of the final 10 games. Overall, he averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
"Once I got to college, it took me a little longer to get going compared to some of the other freshmen on the team," Lavender said. "I was kind of behind but once I got my feet under me and learned the speed of the game, I was pretty comfortable."
After the season, though, Lavender began thinking about leaving. He didn't make a decision until after several of his teammates decided to transfer. He said several Division I schools contacted him, including UAB, as did some of the top junior college programs in the country.
Lavender didn't have a thorough knowledge of UAB basketball but he was aware of what the Blazers did in postseason play last season.
"I just knew they had a pretty successful year and I knew about they went to the tournament and did pretty well, beating Iowa State," Lavender said. "After their name first came up in my recruitment, I started looking deeper into the school and realized Coach (Jerod) Haase was here and was doing a lot of good things with the program. They were playing a lot of big time competition. I think it was all about getting a bigger opportunity."
It still wasn't easy leaving his home state. Lavender's only trip to the south was a visit to Destin, Fla., and he didn't know what to expect when he got off the plane for his recruiting trip to UAB. He felt comfortable quickly and now finds himself trying to fit in with a new team.
He will sit out this year because of the NCAA transfer rule, so his lone time to shine this year comes with the Bartow Arena seats empty. Lavender looks at the positive side of taking the year away from games.
"The hard thing last year was getting adjusted," Lavender said. "You're playing with a brand new team with brand new coaches. Being with the team this year, it gives me a chance to develop some chemistry and get to know the coaches and what they expect from us."
Lavender has already made a positive impression on his UAB teammates and coaching staff. And not just as a scoring option.
"I've kind of been labeled as a scorer," Lavender said. "In high school, I had to carry the load for my team and score a lot of points. But, I'm really unselfish. I like to share the ball with my teammates and just play unselfishly. I like to be in the control. I like to have my guys ready to play. I can score. I also like to distribute the ball and do other things."
A year from now, he will be called on to do those things.
The Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are set to return to Birmingham for the second consecutive year, marking the third time the Blazers will host the event. The men's tournament, as well as the women's semifinals and championship, will be played at Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham, while the women's first round and quarterfinal action will take place at UAB's Bartow Arena.
UAB ticket mini plans are now on sale and in high demand. The Holiday 3-Pointer includes games against Hiwassee College (Dec. 22), 2015 NCAA Tournament participant Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 29) and the Blazer's Conference USA home opener against Middle Tennessee (Jan 3). Lower level seats can be purchased for $36 ($60 value), or $24 in the upper level ($45 value). The Conference USA Season Pass is available for $119 in the lower level, (a savings of over $60) and only $79 in the upper level, ($56 off the regular price).
