The NBA Finals have not even begun but it is already time for most of the league to start preparing for next season. The lottery will be held on May 12th, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal is June 15th, and the draft will begin on June 25th. We will spend the months ahead interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Houston G LJ Cryer about his great postseason run with the Cougars and what it would mean to him to get drafted.
You were born in New Orleans and went to high school in Texas, where your 3488 career PTS was #5 in state public high school history: what is the secret to being a great scorer? It is not really a secret. Growing up I always had a knack for scoring, ever since the ball was put in my hands. I went to the gym a lot of days and put up a lot of shots. From my junior year on I never went to lunch because I shot every single day. Hard work is never a secret: it is just what you need to do to achieve great things.
As a freshman at Baylor you beat Gonzaga in the 2021 NCAA title game: what did it mean to you to win a title? It meant a lot. That year I had to sit behind a lot of good players who ended up in the NBA (including Jared Butler/Davion Mitchell). I could have transferred but decided to stick it out and learned a lot. Winning makes everything better so that year was a success.
Why did you decide to transfer in 2023, and what made you choose Houston? I felt that I could not showcase everything I wanted to at Baylor. I talked to Coach Kelvin Sampson, and he said that I could show more of my game in Houston. I also wanted to be held accountable on the defensive end, and he is 1 of the best defensive coaches in the country, so I felt that I made the right move.
As a junior you set a school record with 89.4 FT% and you led the conference in 3P% during each of the past 3 years: what is the key to being a great shooter? Hard work. I put up reps on reps on reps, and had a coach who gave me the ultimate confidence to go out there and shoot the rock.
You are the only player in college basketball history to win multiple regular season titles at multiple schools: what makes you a winner? Just being able to adjust to any role I am in: from not playing much during my 1st year to becoming a 6th Man to being the Robin to Jamal Shead’s Batman to becoming the leader of the team. I pride myself on being the best at whatever role I am placed in.
Last month you were named conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year/3rd-team All-American: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I try to get my schoolwork done on time and not procrastinate. I do not use either 1 as an excuse to not do the other.
Take me through your magical 2025 NCAA tourney run:
In the Final 4 you scored 26 PTS/6-9 3PM in a 3-PT win over Duke: was it extra-special after losing to the Blue Devils by 3 PTS in the 2024 Sweet 16? We tried to not bring up last year’s game too much or let it affect our game this year. It is human nature to look back and want to get revenge, but we both had new teams this year. It was a special moment: I had a good game but we had a lot of other guys step up for us as well.
In the title game you scored a game-high 19 PTS/4-11 3PM in a 2-PT loss to Florida: how close did you come to becoming the 1st player to ever win titles for different schools? It was very close: just a couple of points away! We were 1 shot away from making history…but it did not go our way. That is all you can ask for, but there was a lot of good that came from that game, and it was a successful season.
Your father Lionel Sr. played football at Grambling, your mother Tamica played volleyball at Grambling, and your brother Justin plays football at Florida State: who is the best athlete in the family? Myself! I do not know what you are basing it on but growing up I have won my whole life in every sport I played and am continuing to do so.
What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean a lot to hear my name called, as it is something you dream about as a kid, but it is not the end-all/be-all. I have seen guys who did not get drafted but ended up doing very well in the league (Fred VanVleet/Austin Reaves/etc.), so I am willing to do whatever it takes to break the door down.
