University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Thomas Shea / USATSI
K.J. Lawson Named American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year
Mar 09, 2017 | Men's Basketball
HARTFORD, Conn. - University of Memphis redshirt freshman K.J. Lawson has been named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, announced at a banqet on Thursday afternoon at the XL Center.
For the season, Lawson averaged 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He made 39.9 percent of his shots from the field, while hitting on 22-of-66 long-range attempts.
His rebounding ranks second in the American Athletic Conference, and his scoring is 21st. He was named the Conference Player of the Week on January 23 following a 28-point, 16-rebound effort against Houston and a 16-point, 8-rebound effort against UCF.
His 19 rebounds against East Carolina on January 28 stand as the second-most rebounds in a single-game by a freshman in program history, and is tied for the third-highest total in American Athletic Conference history. His nine double-doubles are third-most in the league this season.
In American Athletic Conference play, he led all award-eligible players in scoring (11.3) and rebounding (8.1).
The award is the second straight Rookie of the Year for the Tigers, as Dedric Lawson won the award a season ago, and third total with Austin Nichols winning the award in 2014.
Lawson also joins Tyreke Evans (2009), Elliot Williams (2009), Derrick Rose (2008), Shawne Williams (2006), Darius Washington Jr. (2005), Sean Banks (2004), and Dajuan Wagner (2002) from Conference USA, Lorenzen Wright (1995) and Anfernee Hardaway (1992) from the Great Midwest Conference, Elliot Perry (1988), Sylvester Gray (1987), and Keith Lee (1982) from the Metro Conference, and Larry Finch (1971) and Joe Proctor (1969) from the Missouri Valley Conference, who previously earned a similar award.
Memphis opens play at 1 p.m. CT on March 10 when the team faces off against the UCF Knights in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
For the season, Lawson averaged 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He made 39.9 percent of his shots from the field, while hitting on 22-of-66 long-range attempts.
His rebounding ranks second in the American Athletic Conference, and his scoring is 21st. He was named the Conference Player of the Week on January 23 following a 28-point, 16-rebound effort against Houston and a 16-point, 8-rebound effort against UCF.
His 19 rebounds against East Carolina on January 28 stand as the second-most rebounds in a single-game by a freshman in program history, and is tied for the third-highest total in American Athletic Conference history. His nine double-doubles are third-most in the league this season.
In American Athletic Conference play, he led all award-eligible players in scoring (11.3) and rebounding (8.1).
The award is the second straight Rookie of the Year for the Tigers, as Dedric Lawson won the award a season ago, and third total with Austin Nichols winning the award in 2014.
Lawson also joins Tyreke Evans (2009), Elliot Williams (2009), Derrick Rose (2008), Shawne Williams (2006), Darius Washington Jr. (2005), Sean Banks (2004), and Dajuan Wagner (2002) from Conference USA, Lorenzen Wright (1995) and Anfernee Hardaway (1992) from the Great Midwest Conference, Elliot Perry (1988), Sylvester Gray (1987), and Keith Lee (1982) from the Metro Conference, and Larry Finch (1971) and Joe Proctor (1969) from the Missouri Valley Conference, who previously earned a similar award.
Memphis opens play at 1 p.m. CT on March 10 when the team faces off against the UCF Knights in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
Players Mentioned
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