University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Payton Named To Lou Henson All-America Team
3/28/2014 12:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Finalist For Henson Award
BOSTON – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball player Elfrid Payton was one of 30 student-athletes named as a finalist for the 2014 Lou Henson award, which was announced by CollegeInsider.com on Thursday.
A first-team All Sun Belt Conference and NABC All-District pick, and the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Payton led Louisiana in scoring (19.2 ppg.), assists (5.9) and steals (2.3). He was second on the team in rebounds (6.0) and helped guide the Ragin' Cajuns to a 23-12 record, the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
The award is one of many for the Gretna, La., native who spent last summer as the starting point guard for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championship, helping the team to the gold medal. The John Ehret High product took part in a seven-game goodwill tour of China and the Far East with Reach USA, where he led the team in scoring in seven games.
"His progress from his freshman through his sophomore year was outstanding and led to opportunities for him overseas with USA Basketball," head coach Bob Marlin said. "And that experience was invaluable as he came back and brought that leadership to our team this season and helped us win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament.
"To be recognized by CollegeInsider.com for an All-America award is a credit to Elfrid and the type of player that he has become."
The junior was the only player in Division I to average 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals on the season. Payton scored in double figures in 32 of 35 games played, including 14 games with 20 or more points and four 30-point performances.
He was one of 10 Division I players during the season to record a triple-double when he scored 34 points, with 11 rebounds and 11 assists at ULM. Payton scored 31 points in games against Houston and Western Kentucky and 32 against Oakland while posting six double-doubles, including games at Louisiana Tech and defending national champion Louisville.
"This is without question the best group of finalists we have ever had," said CollegeInsider.com's Angela Lento. "Selecting the player of the year from this group will not be easy."
The list of finalists also comprise the 2013-14 Lou Henson All-America team.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top Mid-Major player in Division I college basketball. The award is named in honor of Lou Henson who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years.
When he left the game in 2005, Henson was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with 779. He is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State. He is one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four.
The winner of the 2014 Henson award will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 4 in Dallas, site of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
2014 LOU HENSON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Ike Azotam, Quinnipiac
Travis Bader, Oakland
George Beamon, Manhattan
Taylor Braun, North Dakota State
Alec Brown, Green Bay
David Brown, Western Michigan
Julius Brown, Toledo
Glenn Cosey, Eastern Kentucky
Torrey Craig, USC Upstate
Langston Hall, Mercer
Tyler Haws, BYU
Troy Huff, North Dakota
R.J. Hunter, Georgia State
Jeremy Ingram, North Carolina Central
Kareem Jamar, Montana
J.J. Mann, Belmont
Z. Mason, Chattanooga
Javon McCrea, Buffalo
Aaric Murray, Texas Southern
Jake Odum, Indiana State
Jacob Parker, Stephen F. Austin
Elfrid Payton, Louisiana
Devon Saddler, Delaware
Wesley Saunders, Harvard
Justin Sears, Yale
Kiefer Sykes, Green Bay
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
Jalan West, Northwestern State
Alan Williams, UC Santa Barbara
Pendarvis Williams, Norfolk State
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A first-team All Sun Belt Conference and NABC All-District pick, and the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Payton led Louisiana in scoring (19.2 ppg.), assists (5.9) and steals (2.3). He was second on the team in rebounds (6.0) and helped guide the Ragin' Cajuns to a 23-12 record, the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
The award is one of many for the Gretna, La., native who spent last summer as the starting point guard for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championship, helping the team to the gold medal. The John Ehret High product took part in a seven-game goodwill tour of China and the Far East with Reach USA, where he led the team in scoring in seven games.
"His progress from his freshman through his sophomore year was outstanding and led to opportunities for him overseas with USA Basketball," head coach Bob Marlin said. "And that experience was invaluable as he came back and brought that leadership to our team this season and helped us win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament.
"To be recognized by CollegeInsider.com for an All-America award is a credit to Elfrid and the type of player that he has become."
The junior was the only player in Division I to average 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals on the season. Payton scored in double figures in 32 of 35 games played, including 14 games with 20 or more points and four 30-point performances.
He was one of 10 Division I players during the season to record a triple-double when he scored 34 points, with 11 rebounds and 11 assists at ULM. Payton scored 31 points in games against Houston and Western Kentucky and 32 against Oakland while posting six double-doubles, including games at Louisiana Tech and defending national champion Louisville.
"This is without question the best group of finalists we have ever had," said CollegeInsider.com's Angela Lento. "Selecting the player of the year from this group will not be easy."
The list of finalists also comprise the 2013-14 Lou Henson All-America team.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top Mid-Major player in Division I college basketball. The award is named in honor of Lou Henson who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years.
When he left the game in 2005, Henson was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with 779. He is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State. He is one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four.
The winner of the 2014 Henson award will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 4 in Dallas, site of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
2014 LOU HENSON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Ike Azotam, Quinnipiac
Travis Bader, Oakland
George Beamon, Manhattan
Taylor Braun, North Dakota State
Alec Brown, Green Bay
David Brown, Western Michigan
Julius Brown, Toledo
Glenn Cosey, Eastern Kentucky
Torrey Craig, USC Upstate
Langston Hall, Mercer
Tyler Haws, BYU
Troy Huff, North Dakota
R.J. Hunter, Georgia State
Jeremy Ingram, North Carolina Central
Kareem Jamar, Montana
J.J. Mann, Belmont
Z. Mason, Chattanooga
Javon McCrea, Buffalo
Aaric Murray, Texas Southern
Jake Odum, Indiana State
Jacob Parker, Stephen F. Austin
Elfrid Payton, Louisiana
Devon Saddler, Delaware
Wesley Saunders, Harvard
Justin Sears, Yale
Kiefer Sykes, Green Bay
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
Jalan West, Northwestern State
Alan Williams, UC Santa Barbara
Pendarvis Williams, Norfolk State
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