University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thomas Named State's Top Freshman
4/10/2011 4:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Thomas was also tabbed Third Team All-Louisiana, the only freshman to be named to an All-State team.
"We are excited about J.J.'s selection on LSWA team," said UL head coach Bob Marlin. "It's a well deserved honor. He does a great job representing the program and the university."
He is just the third player in UL history to be named the state's top freshman, joining Kevin Brooks (1988) and Elijah Millsap (2007) in the record books.
It marks the second straight year in which the Cajuns have picked up one of the individual awards as Tyren Johnson was named the LSWA's Player of the Year last season.
Thomas played in 25 games with 21 starts in his freshman year en route to Second Team All-Sun Belt honors. He led the Cajuns with 11.6 ppg and ranked second on the squad with 6.3 rpg. During Sun Belt play, the Opelousas native averaged 13.1 ppg and 7.0 rpg. He also led UL with six double-doubles, including a career-high 28-point, 13-rebound effort against South Alabama. He posted double figures 15 times, including four 20-point performances and also picked up Sun Belt player of the Week accolades (2/21). During the Cajuns' impressive 11-game win streak, Thomas averaged 16.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg..
LSWA All-Louisiana
First Team
Anatoly Bose, Nicholls State
Kendall Timmons, Tulane
Pat Richard, McNeese State
Olu Ashaolu, Louisiana Tech
Ryan Brock, Loyola
Second Team
William Mosley, Northwestern State
Will Pratt, Northwestern State
Diego Kapelan, McNeese State
Zach Kinsley, New Orleans
Justin Patton, Grambling
Third Team
Eric Young, LSU-Shreveport
J.J. Thomas, Louisiana
Derrick Parker, LSU-Shreveport
Fred Brown, ULM
DeAndre Brown, Louisiana Tech
Honorable Mention:
P.J. Alawoya (McNeese State), Devon Baker (Northwestern State), Trent Hutchin (SE Louisiana), Brent Leduff (SUNO), Tommie Sykes (ULM), Rolston Turner (LSU)
Player of the Year
Anatoly Bose, Nicholls State
Newcomer of the Year
Eric Young, LSU-Shreveport
Freshman of the Year
J.J. Thomas, ULL
Coach of the Year
Dave Simmons, McNeese State
