RUSTON — Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Lofton, Jr. was one of 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.
Lofton is currently averaging a double-double while leading LA Tech in scoring at 16.7 points per game and in rebounding at 10.8 boards per game. 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.
He had a career-high 36 points to go along with 17 boards at NC State and had 31 points and 14 rebounds in a win at Santa Clara.
Prior to the season, Junior was named to the Karl Malone Award Watch List and the Naismith Trophy Watch List.
The Lute Olson Award, which is presented annually to the top player in Division I College Basketball, is named in honor of Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson.