Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Thompson Selected to Preseason Lou Henson Award Watch List
11/9/2016 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The award is given annually to the best mid-major player in NCAA Division I men's basketball
BOSTON, Mass. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University men's basketball player James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) was selected to the Lou Henson Preseason Player of the Year Award Watch List Wednesday, Nov. 9. The award is annually given out to the best mid-major student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's basketball. Thompson was one of 30 players listed and just one of three from the Mid-American Conference.
Following an outstanding freshman season where he was named MAC Freshman of the Year, Thompson was named to the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team. The 6-foot-10 front court member was the only underclassmen on either side of the conference to earn a preseason distinction. A season ago, Thompson scored 490 points, notching the most points scored by a freshman in Eastern Michigan history. In addition, Thompson pulled down 352 rebounds, good for the third-best total in a single season at EMU. Finally, his 64.5 field goal percentage ranks second all-time in single season history for Eastern and if the Baton Rouge, La. native can keep that pace through his career, he will hold the all-time career record at EMU. After one season donning the Green and White, Thompson has already placed himself inside the top-100 in EMU history for both rebounding and scoring. The 6-foot-10 front-court player begins the 2016-17 season 98th on the all-time scoring list and 51st on the rebounding list.
The Eastern Michigan men's basketball team begins the 2016-17 season Friday, Nov. 11, when it travels to Pittsburgh, Pa. to square off with the University of Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center at 7 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets are on sale at the EMU Ticket Office by calling, 734.487.2282, or visiting EMUEagles.com/tickets.
ABOUT THE LOU HENSON AWARD
The award is named in honor of Henson who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years. When he left the game in 2005 he 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.
Following an outstanding freshman season where he was named MAC Freshman of the Year, Thompson was named to the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team. The 6-foot-10 front court member was the only underclassmen on either side of the conference to earn a preseason distinction. A season ago, Thompson scored 490 points, notching the most points scored by a freshman in Eastern Michigan history. In addition, Thompson pulled down 352 rebounds, good for the third-best total in a single season at EMU. Finally, his 64.5 field goal percentage ranks second all-time in single season history for Eastern and if the Baton Rouge, La. native can keep that pace through his career, he will hold the all-time career record at EMU. After one season donning the Green and White, Thompson has already placed himself inside the top-100 in EMU history for both rebounding and scoring. The 6-foot-10 front-court player begins the 2016-17 season 98th on the all-time scoring list and 51st on the rebounding list.
The Eastern Michigan men's basketball team begins the 2016-17 season Friday, Nov. 11, when it travels to Pittsburgh, Pa. to square off with the University of Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center at 7 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets are on sale at the EMU Ticket Office by calling, 734.487.2282, or visiting EMUEagles.com/tickets.
ABOUT THE LOU HENSON AWARD
The award is named in honor of Henson who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years. When he left the game in 2005 he 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.
Players Mentioned
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