By Kane McGuire, Louisiana Tech Associate Athletic Director/Strategic Communications and Digital Marketing; featured photo by Josh McDaniel
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech totaled five Conference USA postseason awards on Monday, headlined by Daniel Batcho who was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year in a vote by league head coaches, SIDs, and media members.
Batcho was also named First Team All-CUSA and a member of the CUSA All-Defensive Team, earning both honors for the second straight season. Also receiving accolades were Sean Newman Jr. who was selected Third Team All-CUSA and Amaree Abram who earned All-CUSA Honorable Mention.
The power forward, who was a First Team selection and Newcomer of the Year last season in the league, led the Bulldogs and ranked sixth in the conference in scoring at 16.9 points per game. He scored in double figures in 27 of the 31 games played including eight 20+ scoring performances. His best effort was a 38-point performance in a non-conference game, the most scored by an CUSA player this season and the most by a Bulldog since 2016.
The Paris, France native currently ranks second in the country in field goal percentage (68.7), a mark that would set a new program record and be the third-best FG% for a single season in CUSA history.
For the season, Batcho also ranked sixth in the league in rebounds per game (6.6) and first in blocks per game (2.0). He currently ranks top 30 in the country in both blocks per game and total rejections with 62, becoming just the fourth Bulldog in program history to have back-to-back seasons of 60+ blocks.
Batcho is one of only three players in the nation averaging at least 16 points, six rebounds, and two blocks per game this season. He tallied six double-doubles, including three games of 24+ points and 10+ rebounds.
One of the best passers in college basketball, Newman Jr. became a two-time All-CUSA selection after earning Honorable Mention honors last season. The point guard currently ranks first in CUSA and top five in the country in both total assists (238) and assists per game (7.9). His 238 assists ranks third in program history and fifth in CUSA history.
The Los Angeles, California native has dished out 10+ assists seven times and 5+ assists in 28 of his 30 games played. During non-conference play, he set the program and CUSA record for most assists in a single game with 20.
The pass-first guard can also score it, having averaged 9.9 points per game with 15 double-digit scoring performances. He recorded a career-high 27 points in LA Tech’s conference victory over Liberty. He is also second in the league in free throw percentage at 83.3 percent.
Abram has played and started in all 31 games for the Bulldogs. The Georgia Tech transfer ranks second on the team and 16th in CUSA in points per game (12.3) this season, having registered double-digit points in 22 contests including three 20+ scoring performances. Two of those came during league action, posting 20 points at FIU and 21 points at WKU.
The lefty sharpshooter from Port Arthur, Texas anchors the Bulldogs with 66 made three-pointers, tied for the ninth most in the league and four shy of cracking the top 10 in program history, while shooting 37.7 percent from deep.
Abram also ranks tied for sixth in the conference in total steals (46) and steals per game (1.5), both of which are team highs. He registered at least one steal in 23 games played.
NOTABLES
- The Bulldogs have now had 12 CUSA All-Defensive Team selections, tied for the most in league history (UAB)
- It marks the fourth time in CUSA history a program has had different players earn Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons
- LA Tech has earned at least one specialty award in eight of its 12 seasons in CUSA
- LA Tech has had at least one First Team All-CUSA selection in eight of its 12 seasons in CUSA
- The Bulldogs have had nine First Team All-CUSA selections, tied for the fourth most in league history and the most of any current league member
2024-25 CONFERENCE USA HONORS
First Team All-Conference
Jaron Pierre Jr., Jacksonville State
Adrian Wooley, Kennesaw State
Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech
Essam Mostafa, Middle Tennessee
Lamar Wilkerson, Sam Houston
Second Team All-Conference
Simeon Cottle, Kennesaw State
Kaden Metheny, Liberty
Jestin Porter, Middle Tennessee
Otis Frazier III, UTEP
Don McHenry, WKU
Third Team All-Conference
Zach Cleveland, Liberty
Taelon Peter, Liberty
Sean Newman Jr., Louisiana Tech
Christian Cook, New Mexico State
Peter Filipovity, New Mexico State
All-CUSA Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
Jayden Brewer, FIU
Mason Nicholson, Jacksonville State
Colin Porter, Liberty
Amaree Abram, Louisiana Tech
Camryn Weston, Middle Tennessee
Cameron Huefner, Sam Houston
Corey Camper Jr., UTEP
David Terrell Jr., UTEP
Khristian Lander, WKU
Tyrone Marshall Jr., WKU
All-Defensive Team
Vianney Salatchoum, FIU
Mason Nicholson, Jacksonville State
Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech
Corey Camper Jr., UTEP
Otis Frazier III, UTEP
All-Freshman Team
Quel’Ron House, Jacksonville State
Braedan Lue, Kennesaw State
Adrian Wooley, Kennesaw State
Torey Alston, Middle Tennessee
Julius Thedford, WKU
Player of the Year
Jaron Pierre Jr., Jacksonville State
Defensive Player of the Year
Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech
Newcomer of the Year
Essam Mostafa, Middle Tennessee
Freshman of the Year
Adrian Wooley, Kennesaw State
Sixth Player of the Year
Taelon Peter, Liberty
Gene Bartow Coach of the Year
Ray Harper, Jacksonville State