DALLAS – Conference USA men’s basketball standout Kenneth Lofton, Jr., of Louisiana Tech has been selected as one of 50 student-athletes named to the initial Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List, the Atlanta Tip Off Club announced Monday. The Naismith Trophy is presented annually to the top player in Division I Men’s Basketball.
 
Lofton, who has already racked up numerous preseason accolades, enters his second season with the Bulldogs as the reigning C-USA Freshman of the Year. He has been named to the 2022 Karl Malone Award Watch List honoring the top power forward in the country and was a 2021-22 preseason All-Conference USA honoree.
 
A year ago, Lofton averaged 12.1 points and 7.5 boards and earned Third Team All-Conference USA honors. He was a Kyle Macy Award Finalist and was named to the NIT All-Tournament Team. During the summer, Lofton, Jr., helped Team USA take home the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup Gold medal after leading the team with 13.1 points per game while shooting 64.9 percent from the field, the highest by a Team USA player since 2013.
 
The Conference USA men’s basketball slate kicks off Tuesday, Nov. 9, and concludes at the 2022 C-USA Men’s Basketball Championship, March 8-12, at The Star in Frisco, Texas.