One of college basketball’s most productive big men over the last two seasons will be playing elsewhere next year.
Stadium’s Jeff Goodman reported on Friday that Louisiana Tech power forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. will be entering the transfer portal.
Huge news: Louisiana Tech big man Kenneth Lofton, Jr. has gone portaling, the portal told @Stadium.
Averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 boards this past season.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 8, 2022
Lofton is arguably college basketball’s most unique player. He looks more like an offensive lineman than a basketball player. But as the numbers show, he was a highly-effective low post player for the Bulldogs.
A number of college hoops fans are hoping that he ends up on their favorite teams.
I’ve never wanted anything more than America’s favorite hefty mid-major son to become a Cardinal https://t.co/HkAtY0KFAZ
— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) April 8, 2022
Omg @EricPMusselman I know you already know, but……… https://t.co/YHGj2rcZ7T
— Mitchell Weber (@_mdw235) April 8, 2022
I need him on the hoosiers right this instant https://t.co/oPcGNy1zSS
— Chris🚬 (@chrisdaplant) April 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/jackmcdonald55/status/1512558326743277569
Need him at Syracuse https://t.co/sxIWJdp1Mz
— Ethan Zombek (@eszombek) April 8, 2022
This is a HUGE one for somebody. He’s quite fun. https://t.co/M8gA7BgETz
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 8, 2022
I’m instantly rooting for whatever team he transfers too https://t.co/CCroSZAhph
— Breeze (@Kbreeze20) April 8, 2022
Lofton was the Freshman of the Year in Conference USA in 2021. He earned third-team All-Conference honors that year, averaging 12.2 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. He was better as a sophomore and earned first-team All-Conference honors as a result.
And while Lofton did play in a mid-major conference, his game generally came with him when the Bulldogs played against major-conference teams.
That’s big time portal news. Lofton can score and rebound in any league in the country – he scored 36 points and hauled in 17 rebounds against NC State this season. https://t.co/eTHMmGCbiS
— Sean Paul (@SeanPaulCBB) April 8, 2022
Lofton scored 12 points and 9 rebounds in a game against Alabama, and 13 points and 7 rebounds against LSU during the 2021-22 season, as well.
He’ll be a popular player wherever he ends up. But if Lofton ends up in the right place, he could be a popular player making big plays in big games come tournament time in 2023.