Ty Lawson is entering his third year in the NBA and is showing fans in Denver, as well as the country, why he's one of the best up and coming point guards in the league. It's one thing to be a great player on the court, but being a leader and role model off the court is important to him as well. This year, Ty will be hosting a basketball camp for youth at Legend High School from July11th-14th. Six youth players received scholarships to the inaugural Ty Lawson Denver Basketball Camp during a ceremony at the Chipotle restaurant in Cherry Creek North on Sunday, July 10th. After the dinner in which the scholarships were awarded, I had a chance to sit down with Ty and ask him a few questions about his role in the community, as well as his role with the Denver Nuggets.

When asked if there were any similar events that helped shape what he wants to do now in regards to the community, he said "I went to the University of Maryland camp where I met Steve Blake and Gary Williams. I remember taking a picture with Gary Williams, I asked him if he remembered, he said yes but I didnt think he really did." Having the chance to meet a professional athlete can have a big impact on kids who look up to them and Ty knows, and embraces this part of being a pro basketball player. I asked Ty if he feels that he's a role model for the youth players and he went on to say, "I definitely think that I am a role model for aspiring basketball players or just young people in the community. Its good to keep a clean slate and do everything by the book and do it right. That's why I am doing things like this for the community, to give back."

Ty Lawson will be the starting poing guard for the Denver Nuggets next season, his third in the league. I asked him what his expectations were for himself, as well as the team and this is what he had to say, "For the team, I want us to go further than we did last year, I feel that we can win more games and I feel everybody is working harder. I Think I'm going to try and have us get together in Vegas, everybody come out and work out together for at least a week." When it comes him personally, Ty knows he has tremendous ability and is looking forward to being the leader and floor general of the Nuggets. Ty said "As for myself, the sky is the limit. I am working hard, trying to be an All-Star, trying to do everything the best I can, to be the best player I can be."

Local prep star and Nuggets icon Chauncey Billips played a major role in the community and Ty feels as though he can be a big part of the community as well. When asked if he felt he could fill the shoes of Billips, he said "I'm trying to, you know... thats some big shoes to fill. He's a great role model and leader, so right now I'm trying to start off with something like this and hopefully it will turn into something bigger, and I can do more things in the community."

Once the serious questions were done I felt I should ask Ty about his tremendous vertical leap and if Nuggets fans could expect to see any monster dunks like the one we had the pleasure to see against the Lakers big man D.J. Mbenga. He said "Yeah I think so... back in high school I used to dunk everything, used to be a big dunker, but now I guess, it's harder becuase the NBA can wear down your legs. This year I'm trying to do some squatting and get everything ready. I want to get back to where I was."

Nuggets fans should be excited for the upcoming season, if and when the season get's underway. Ty Lawson is a proven leader and a National Champion as the point guard of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Just as important, Ty is a leader off the court and is trying to do his part in helping youth and being a good role model.