Men’s Basketball: Russell, Akwuba Named To All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball Team

Russel named first team, Akwuba selected as state’s Newcomer of the Year

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LAFAYETTE – Paced by first-team member Cedric Russell, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Men’s Basketball team placed two players on the 2021 Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) Men’s College Basketball Team, the organization announced on Tuesday.
 
Joining Russell on the 18-member squad was junior Theo Akwuba, who was a second-team pick and was voted as the state’s Newcomer of the Year.
 

The LSWA Men’s Basketball team was based on nominations by the state’s men’s basketball sports information directors and voted on by a statewide panel of SIDs and media members.
 
Russell, a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference and NABC All-District pick, averaged 17.2 points per game to lead Louisiana in scoring while being named a Lou Henson All-American by CollegeInsider.com.
 
He scored in double figures in 22 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns with 10 game scoring 20 points or more. Russell opened the season with 26 points against eventual national champion Baylor in the Vegas Bubble and scored 12 points at New Orleans to become the 49th player to reach the 1,000-point mark in his career
 
Russell scored 25 points against Louisiana Tech, helping the Ragin’ Cajuns rally from a 16-point deficit and added 20 points against Georgia State in the semifinals of the SBC Championships to move 22nd place on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,409).
 
Akwuba, the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-SBC pick, averaged 11.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in his inaugural campaign for Louisiana after playing his first two seasons at the University of Portland. 
 
The 6-foot-11 Akwuba ranked among the NCAA Division I national leaders in total blocked shots, blocked shots per game, total rebounds, rebounds per game, offensive rebounds per game and double-doubles. He reached double-figures in scoring in 17 games during the season and posted 12 games with 10 or more boards
 
Akwuba was near perfect from the floor in his Louisiana debut against eventual national champion Baylor, scoring a then career-high 22 points on 9 of 9 shooting, including his first-ever attempt from behind the 3-point line late in the second half. He scored a career-high 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting and grabbed 10 boards in a win over Arkansas State.
 
Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsMBB), Facebook (RaginCajunsMBB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsMBB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Men’s Basketball.
 
Player of the Year: Cameron Thomas, LSU
Newcomer of the Year: Theo Akwuba, Louisiana
Freshman of the Year: Cameron Thomas, LSU
Coach of the Year: Eric Konkol, Louisiana Tech
 
First-Team
Kadavion Evans, LSU-Shreveport – 19.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, First-Team NAIA All-America
Cedric Russell, Louisiana – 17.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, First-Team All-Sun Belt
Javonte Smart, LSU – 15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, Second-Team All-SEC
Cameron Thomas, LSU – 22.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, First-Team All-SEC
Trendon Watford, LSU – 16.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, First-Team All-SEC
 
Second-Team
Theo Akwuba, Louisiana – 11.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.6 bpg, SBC Defensive Player of the Year
Jaylen Forbes, Tulane – 16.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, Third-Team All-AAC
Ty Gordon, Nicholls – 14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, First-Team All-Southland
Kenneth Lofton, Jr., Louisiana Tech – 11.0 ppg; 7.3 rpg, C-USA Freshman of the Year
Rayshawn Mart, Xavier – 22.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, First-Team NAIA All-America
 
Third-Team
Kae’Ron Baker, Louisiana College – 22.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, First-Team All-ASC
Jonathan Cisse, LSU-Eunice – 21.8 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.1 spg, First-Team All-LCCAC
Darius Days, LSU – 11.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg
Damion Rosser, New Orleans – 15.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, Second-Team All-Southland
Zach Wrightsil, Loyola – 17 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, Second-Team NAIA All-America
 
Honorable Mention: Malik Amos, Dillard; Isaiah Crawford, Louisiana Tech; Seth Thomas, Centenary.