Larry Lamar Jr. played football briefly for Grafton High School, but it was always basketball that was in his heart. The Grafton senior began playing the sport at a young age because the sport was around him and he joined in with the family. 

“It brought the family together,” he said. “It was a sport that I enjoyed playing and it helped me to get through high school.”

While in Lexington Middle School Lamar tried out for the basketball team and to his astonishment was cut. The decision made by the coaches to let him go was devastating for the youngster and it affected him for weeks. Being cut forced him to work extremely hard at his game and when his family moved to Grafton he had another shot at playing the sport he truly loved. However, in a somewhat similar situation Lamar tried out for the travel team and although he was not turned away he was delegated to the B team.

“Being sent to the B Team was another slap in the face, but that team went undefeated and when we played the A team we blew them out – it was somewhat of a redemption,” Lamar said. “Being cut and then being sent to the B team definitely motivated me to prove to everyone that they were wrong, not just the coaches but to the kids that taunted me as well.”

Sometimes when things happen, it’s for a reason and Lamar continued to hone his craft on the basketball court and by the time high school came around he was more than ready to take the next step in his basketball career. The incoming freshman made the Gators varsity team knowing that he wasn’t going to get much playing time but that was all right with him.

“By the time that high school came around the coaches knew who I was and what I brought to the court. It was the beginning of showing that the other coaches made a mistake by passing on me and kicking me to the B team,” he said. “As a freshman I started a few games, but my main role was to play defense, as we already had the scorers.”

With the talent in front of him Lamar knew that for a freshman to make a varsity team, something that hadn’t happened in a long time at Grafton, he wasn’t going to get a lot of playing time. That first year was for him to watch and learn and that is exactly what he did - making the best of the situation he was handed.

Although not seeing a great deal of playing time that season, Lamar was still able to put up 50 points for the Gators. Come his sophomore season he was more than ready to get onto the court and help Grafton to the tournament. Unfortunately, playing in his first game against Doherty he put up the worst game he had ever played, only scoring 4 points and losing all confidence in his game. 

“As a freshman I absolutely saw stardom in him, he was a hard-working individual with talent,” Grafton Coach John Patraitis said. “It’s rare for a freshman to make an impact right away, especially at the varsity level.”

As in the past he shook it off and in the next game versus Auburn he found himself in a totally different atmosphere where he would drop 28 points on the Rockets and helped the Gators to victory.

“I just went out and did what I needed to do and the shots kept falling,” he said. “If I get a good screen I can drive to the basket for a layup or pull and take a mid-range jumper.”

By the time his sophomore season came to an end he was sitting just short of 250 points. With two years left to play in his high school career and 750 plus points to reach the elusive 1.000 plateau Lamar was not really entertaining the idea of passing  that number. But just as he pushed the thought to the backburner things began to happen and the Grafton point guard found himself scoring 25-30 points a game on a regular basis and in his head he thought that this was something that he could actually accomplish.

“Larry became that person who was always in discussion of the other coaches,” Patraitis said. “He’s a drive first player with strong physical capabilities that the opposition finds it tough to keep him in front of them. Offensively – he is our engine.”

This year Lamar was able to score 22 points and get himself over the 1,000-point plateau and put himself in select company throughout the state. The monumental  occasion happened in the third quarter when the senior knocked down a three-point shot to put him into elite company.

“I knew that I was close, but it was something that I really wasn’t thinking about I just wanted to win the game,” the point guard said. “The points were just starting to flow, and I had a lot of family there when I hit that three-point to score my 1000 point. All my hard work had paid off, and it was great to have the support but tog et the win (a one-point victory) was 10 times better than scoring 1000 points.”

With his name eventually to be added to the 1,000-point banner at Grafton High School the senior continued to score at will and a few games later while hosting Westboro Lamar would break the school record of 1099 career points. This record he knew was coming and he really wanted to do it at home in front of all the Grafton students. He would end the season as Grafton’s career point scorer with1150 points.

“When we came into the year we only set team goals but in my mind I felt confident that he was eventually going to break the school record,” the Gators coach said. “He led the Mid Wach A this years as the leading scorer.”

Now not only having eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau, but also surpassing the school scoring record Lamar can only look back and hope that all those in his past know what he has accomplished during his high school career.

“Having broken the school record, I think about it a lot and how many people doubted me,” he said. “To do this – it just shows them what they didn’t believe in was able to accomplish.”

Although the season has concluded with no post-season play Lamar now has to contemplate his future and where basketball fits in. 

“I am still trying to figure out my options regarding college,” Lamar said. “I do enjoy basketball and can see myself continuing to play the sport. If an opportunity comes to play on the collegiate level – I’d definitely take it.”

While he still has the door open to play the game he loves on the next level if that opportunity doesn’t come Lamar knows that he set things with a lot of people straight. He was a talented basketball player and he knew it  when unfortunately others didn’t see it coming.