GDW Analysis:
Lawson Schaffer has a tremendous love to the game of basketball.
Schaffer was an impact performer when he suited up for the Cullman Bearcats. Schaffer was named the state's 6A player of the year in 2015 when Cullman earned a berth to the Elite Eight of the AHSAA playoffs.
He is the Bearcats' all time leading scorer with 1,997 points. In his senior year, Schaffer tore up the opposition scoring 707, averaging 21 points a game.
The talented athlete then took his skills to the Southeastern Conference, playing for the University of Alabama.
Schaffer saw time on the hardwood for the Crimson Tide 56 games in his four seasons at the capstone from 2016 to 2019.
Now Schaffer is still involved with the game from a different perspective.
A youth skills camp with Schaffer directing was held at the Cullman Basketball Complex.
Proceeds from the camp are now with Cullman Christian School. Cullman Christian will enter its 2nd year as a sanctioned member of the AHSAA in 2025/26.
The camp with Schaffer getting assistance by former Cullman standout Seth Swalve, ex Albertville player Riley Norris, CCS girls coach Heith Yearwood, Good Hope coach Griffin Morris, Good Hope assistant Mitch Morris and former West Point JV coach Scott Brown consisted of numerous drills in different phases of the game.
Swalve and Norris have a collegiate background just like Schaffer. Swalve played at the University of Alabama Huntsville while Norris hooped it up with Alabama.
The two day camp drew over 40 participants from the age of 8 years old to high school level.
Yearwood, the principal of Cullman Christian as well as the coach of the Lady Lions, expressed pride in the inaugural event.
Yearwood said the plans is to have the camp earlier in 2026 as the event was going on with volleyball team camps and football 7 on 7 the same time.
Schaffer is looking to maintain involvement in the game as an analyst.
He did some work last season for the SEC Network including an Alabama that was played at Legacy Arena in Birmingham in December.
Photo of Lawson Schaffer watching a session from a youth basketball camp at the Cullman Basketball Complex July 17.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
