Kenneth Lofton, Jr. named to preseason Naismith Award Watch List

RUSTON – One day before the season gets underway, Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Lofton, Jr. was named to the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List, the Atlanta Tip Off Club announced Monday.

The Bulldog forward was one of 50 players (and the only one in Conference USA) selected to the watch list for the Naismith Trophy, an annual award presented to college basketball’s most outstanding player.

The Port Arthur, Texas native looks to build upon a freshman campaign that saw him lead LA Tech in scoring (12.1 points) and rebounding (7.5), becoming the first frosh to do so since Paul Millsap in 2003-04.

He registered the most double-digit scoring games on the squad with 22, including 20+ scoring performances, and a team-high nine double-doubles, which ranked second in C-USA and 27th in the country.

He ended up averaging 20.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in four games in the National Invitation Tournament, guiding the Bulldogs all the way to a third-place finish in the Final Four. Against the likes of three SEC opponents – LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State – Lofton, Jr. averaged 19.7 points and 9.7 boards.

After gaining notoriety around the country as a Bulldog, he gained attention from around the world over the summer after helping Team USA to the gold of the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia.

He ended up leading Team USA in scoring with an average of 13.1 points per game while shooting 64.9 percent from the field (highest by a Team USA player since 2013).

This is one of several preseason honors for Junior who was also one of 20 players named to the Karl Malone Watch List, an annual award that recognizes the top power forwards in college basketball.

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