Men’s Basketball: Johnson Named Louisiana’s Top Player

Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com Tyren Johnson was named the 2010 Louisiana Men’s Basketball Player of the Year on Saturday. Johnson, who represented the University of Louisiana in the Reese’s College All Star Game in Indianapolis and was recently named an Associated Press All-American, becomes the first Cajun since Michael Allen in 1994 to earn the top individual honor in Louisiana. The Vacherie native scored in double-figures in 19 straight games to the close out the season and had 12 games with 20 or more points.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association recognized the accomplishments of former Ragin’ Cajuns forward Tyren Johnson as he was voted the 2010 Louisiana Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.

Johnson, who represented the University of Louisiana in the Reese’s College All Star Game in Indianapolis and was recently named an Associated Press All-American, becomes the first Cajun since Michael Allen in 1994 to earn the top individual honor in Louisiana.

Johnson, the Sun Belt Conference’s Player of the Year, averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game during his senior season in 2009-10. The Vacherie native scored in double-figures in 19 straight games to the close out the season and had 12 games with 20 or more points.

Johnson led Louisiana in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. Johnson was the only player in the Sun Belt Conference and joined Vermont’s Marqus Blakely as one of the only two players in the nation to lead his team in all five of those categories.

He was the only player from Louisiana to participate in the Reese’s College All-Star game. He scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists and had one block and two steals.

Joining him on the 2010 All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball team was Chris Gradnigo who earned third team honors.

Gradnoigo averaged a career-best 14.0 points. Became 38^th player at UL to reach 1,000 career points. Made 100-plus field goals for third straight season.

A Cajuns player had not earned All-Louisiana honors since Elijah Millsap was a third team pick in 2007. Johnson is the first UL player to be first team All-Louisiana since Brad Boyd in 2003.

Nicholls State’s Anatoly Bose, Louisiana Tech’s Kyle Gibson, LSU’s Tasmin Mitchell and LSU-Shreveport’s Derrick Parker joined Johnson on the All-Louisiana First Team. Centenary’s Daman Starring was named Louisiana Freshman of the Year and Northwestern State?s Will Pratt was tabbed Louisiana Newcomer of the Year. Louisiana Tech’s Kerry Rupp has been named Louisiana Men?s Basketball Coach of the Year

First Team
Anatoly Bose (Nicholls State)
Kyle Gibson (Louisiana Tech)
Tyren Johnson (Louisiana)
Tasmin Mitchell (LSU)
Derrick Parker (LSU-Shreveport)

Second Team
Ryan Brock (Loyola)
Will Pratt (Northwestern State)
Magnum Rolle (Louisiana Tech)
Bo Spencer (LSU)
Patrick Sullivan (Southeastern Louisiana)

Third Team
Chris Gradnigo (Louisiana)
Michael Harvey (Xavier)
Fred Hunter (Nicholls State)
David Perez (Centenary)
Storm Warren (LSU)

Honorable Mention
Olu Ashaolu (Louisiana Tech), Charles Carmouche (New Orleans), Dynile Forbers (La.-Monroe), Jamel Guyton (Louisiana Tech), Tony Hooper (La.-Monroe), Patrick Richard (McNeese State), Tommy Sykes (La.-Monroe)

Player of the Year:
Tyren Johnson (Louisiana)

Newcomer of the Year:
Will Pratt (Northwestern State)

Freshman of the Year:
Daman Starring (Centenary)

Coach of the Year:
Kerry Rupp (Louisiana Tech)