LSU’s Eason, LA Tech’s Lofton, Jr. named to Lute Olson Mid-Season Award Watch List

LSU’s Tari Eason and Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Lofton, Jr. were two of the 30 players named to the Mid-Season Watch List for the 2021-22 Lute Olson National Player of the Year award, announced Wednesday by CollegeInsider.com.

Eason, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, earned his second LSWA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor of the season this week after he recorded the first 20-point, 10-rebound game by an LSU player this season.

Averaging 16.2 points per game on 53.2 percent from the floor, the Los Angeles native has scored in double figures in his last seven games while shooting more than 50 percent from the floor in five of the last seven games. Eason also averages 7.6 rebounds per contest.

In his second college season, Lofton is currently averaging a double-double while leading LA Tech in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (10.8). His rebounding average ranks ninth in the country while his nine double-doubles ranks sixth. He is also shooting 55.7 percent from the field, which ranks first in Conference USA.

The Port Arthur, Texas native has won C-USA Player of the Week honors twice and is one of only two players in Division I to post multiple 30-point/10-rebound games.

The Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award is given annually to the top player in Division I basketball.

2021-22 Lute Olson Award Mid-Season Watch List
James Akinjo, Baylor
Keve Aluma, Virginia Tech
Armando Bacot, North Carolina
Paolo Banchero, Duke
Alex Barcello, BYU
Christian Braun, Kansas
Julian Champagnie, St. John’s
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Tari Eason, LSU
Zach Edey, Purdue
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
Christian Koloko, Arizona
Hyunjung Lee, Davidson
E.J. Liddell, Ohio State
Kenneth Lofton, Jr., Louisiana Tech
Isaiah Mobley, USC
Wendell Moore, Duke
Keegan Murray, Iowa
Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama
Orlando Robinson, Fresno State
David Roddy, Colorado State
Jabari Smith, Auburn
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Alondes Williams, Wake Forest