Kimani Lawrence becomes ASU’s all-time leader in games played

Feb 27, 2022, 9:20 AM

Kimani Lawrence #4 of the Arizona State Sun Devils shoots the ball against Gabe Madsen #55 and Branden Carlson #35 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at the Jon M Huntsman Center on February 26, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

Arizona State graduate student Kimani Lawrence played his 133rd career game for the Sun Devils in Saturday night’s win over Utah. He passed Jonathan Gilling to become the program’s all-time leader in games played.

The forward returned for a fifth season, using his extra year of eligibility the NCAA provided due to the pandemic.

The Sun Devils had a largely new team entering the 2021-22 campaign, and Lawrence was the final bridge from the NCAA Tournament teams of 2018 and 2019.

Arizona State extends the lead with a TOUGH bucket from Kimani Lawrence! 😤#FirstFour | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/tbBipk5ePj

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2019

“He has been a guy that has just been so loyal, reliable, a great team guy who is about winning, does all the dirty work and does all the things the others don’t want to do,” head coach Bobby Hurley told 98.7 FM Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta during Newsmakers Week.

Lawrence was a four-star prospect from New Hampton School in New Hampshire. His debut was delayed by a fractured left foot, and he ended his freshman year with only 19 games under his belt.

He was a starter out of the gate in Year 2, and he averaged 8.6 points per game. The sophomore scored nine points on six shots in ASU’s NCAA Tournament loss to Buffalo.

Lawrence’s improvement has been evident over the years, as he is scoring a career-high 10.3 points per game on 53% shooting, his most efficient clip at ASU.

The Sun Devils are back at Desert Financial Arena on Thursday when they face California. The game will start 6 p.m. and air on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 19: Kimani Lawrence #14 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after a three-point basket against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half of a semifinal game of the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 19, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 72-67. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Arizona State forward Kimani Lawrence (4) drives against Oregon during an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)

Arizona State's Kimani Lawrence, right, blocks a shot by UCLA's Chris Smith during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 men's tournament Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Arizona State forward Kimani Lawrence (14) and Georgia forward JoJo Toppin vie for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Arizona State forward Kimani Lawrence (4) shoots between Arizona guard Jemarl Baker Jr. (10) and Stone Gettings during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona State's Kimani Lawrence (4) celebrates after scoring against Washington State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Arizona State forward Kimani Lawrence (4) shoots over Colorado guard Luke O'Brien during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. Colorado won 75-57. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona State forward Kimani Lawrence, right, drives past Colorado forward Jabari Walker during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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