Former LSU star Eason one of 25 players eligible for Lute Olson Player of Year award

PHOTO: Jonathan Mailhes

 LSU forward Tari Eason, who was named the Sixth Man of the Year in the Southeastern Conference, was named Monday to the CollegeInsider.com Lute Olson All-America team and one of 25 players eligible for the Lute Olson Player of the Year award.

The Lute Olson Award was named for the Hall of Fame coach who won 776 games in 34 seasons, 24 of which were spent at the University of Arizona.

The 6-foot-8, 215-pound Eason, an All-SEC first team selection, was also named Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press and a third-team All-America by Sports Illustrated. He averaged 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. He had 29 games scoring in double figures with 11 games of 20 points or more.

He had seven double doubles and four 20-point, 10-rebound games during the year.

Eason, from Los Angeles, recently signed with an agent and declared for the upcoming NBA Draft where he is the No. 15 prospect in the NBA 100. He also led a defense that ranked No. 1 in the SEC and sixth nationally, per Ken Pomeroy’s ratings.

Eason topped LSU with a 16.9 scoring average which was good enough for fifth in the SEC. He shot 52 percent (190 of 365) from the field and 80.3 percent (151 of 188) from the free throw line. He also grabbed 6.6 rebounds which was good enough for second on the team.

Eason scored in double figures 29 times, including a career-high 26 at Alabama on Jan. 19, and put 11 straight games together of double-digit scoring (Jan. 15-Feb. 19). He also compiled seven double-doubles which was the most since Jordan Mickey (eight) and Jarrell Martin (five).

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