Team USA trailed at halftime for the first time in the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. And they trailed by as much as eight late in the third quarter as a gritty France team refused to give up its lead.
That lead finally went away and Lofton, Jr. was a huge reason, scoring a team-high 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, two assists and one steal to help the USA complete an 83-81 come-from-behind victory and bring home gold on Sunday in Latvia.
Junior was limited in the first half, taking just one shot attempt while recording only one point. As the red and blue faced a 42-37 deficit at the break, they came out of the locker room and started to play through the post more.
Enter the Conference USA Freshman of the Year (and his massive bag of low-post moves).
He scored the first two buckets for USA in the third quarter. Down their largest deficit at 58-50 with 2:20 to play in the stanza, Junior powered his way for two more field goals and assisted on a triple to tie things up at 59-59.
France would not back down though, going on a mini 5-0 run to go into the fourth and final quarter with a five-point edge.
Playing almost the entire final 10 minutes of the game, Junior got even stronger. The Port Arthur, Texas native recorded seven points and three rebounds in the last stanza to spark the USA’s comeback.
His biggest bucket was his team-leading seventh made FG, which came with 2:10 to go as the USA pushed its lead out to 81-76. His biggest defensive play came on the next possession as he picked the pocket of France’s point guard on the perimeter, which led to a fastbreak dunk.
And his biggest rebound came at the very end as he outhustled everyone for the offensive rebound to not allow the opponent to have a potential game-winning shot, securing the two-point victory and the gold.
He had an identical 16 points and seven boards in the semifinal game to help the USA outlast Canada by a score of 92-86. He also had 14 points in the Round of 16 blowout of Korea and 11 points versus Senegal in the quarterfinals.
Lofton, Jr. ended up leading Team USA in scoring for the entire tournament, averaging 13.1 points while shooting 65 percent from the field. He also ranked second on the squad in rebounds per game (5.3) and efficiency per game (15.0).
The Bulldog played like a bulldog. And even though he did not win MVP for the tournament, he played like an MVP too.
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#2 Kenneth Lofton, Jr.
- Forward
- 6′ 7″
- 275 lbs
- Freshman
- 1L
| No. 2 – Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | Conference USA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 14, 2002 Port Arthur, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 275 lb (125 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Memorial (Port Arthur, Texas) |
| College | Louisiana Tech (2020–present) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Kenneth Wayne Lofton Jr. (born August 14, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs of the Conference USA (C-USA).
With the U.S. lead at only 77-74 in the fourth quarter, Lofton took a high-low pass from Holmgren and scored on a lefthanded power move. Lofton pulled a steal off Tchicamboud and Ivey turned that into a coast-to-coast dunk.
It couldn’t be easy, not against a team as terrific as France, but when a late 3-pointer from France cut the lead to two points with 29 seconds left, the Americans worked down to a late shot from point guard Kennedy Chandler. If France rebounded, it would have a chance to win or tie.
Lofton grabbed the ball.
About the only thing he did not seize on this afternoon was the MVP trophy.
The square gold medal hanging from his neck afterward would have to do.
Basketball: Tech’s Lofton makes U19 World Cup team
FORT WORTH, Texas – Kenneth Lofton, Jr. is trading in his Louisiana Tech red and blue for a different kind of red and blue this summer.
After going through a six-day training camp in Fort Worth, Texas along with 25 other athletes, it was announced late Thursday night that the Bulldog was selected to the 12-member 2021 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Cup Team roster.
The team features six players who completed their first collegiate season and six players from the high school class of 2021.
“This week has been very fulfilling so far, and the process of selecting this 12-player group was really difficult given the amount of talent we have had at training camp,” said Jamie Dixon, Team USA head coach. “Everyone has been working hard, we are growing closer as a group, which is really important.
“I am excited about the team that the committee put together as we now prepare to head overseas to Latvia and compete for a gold medal.”
The Port Arthur, Texas native made the first round of cuts on June 21 as one of 17 finalists. The official team was selected following 10 training sessions held on the campus of Texas Christian University.
Lofton, Jr. becomes the first LA Tech men’s basketball player to earn ever a spot on the U19 World Cup Team and just the seventh from a current Conference USA school.
USA men’s teams have won seven gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal while compiling a 99-14 overall record in U19 World Cup play since the even launched in 1979. The UTSA has won four of the last six U19 golds since 2009.
The current team is scheduled to continue training on the TCU campus through June 28, then travel to Riga, Latvia for the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup that will be played July 3-11.
Featuring U19 teams from 16 nations, the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup includes in addition to the USA and host Latvia, Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, Japan, Lithuania, Mali, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain and Turkey.
The USA was drawn into Group D, alongside Australia, Mali and Turkey for the July 3-6 FIBA U19 World Cup preliminary round. The USA will open play against Turkey on July 3 (9:30 a.m. CT), followed by Mali on July 4 (12:30 p.m. CT) and close preliminary play against Australia on July 6 (12:30 p.m. CT).
USA U19 World Cup Team
Patrick Baldwin, Jr. (Hamilton HS/Sussex, Wis.)
Kennedy Chandler (Sunrise Christian Academy, Kan./Memphis, Tenn.)
Jonathan Davis (Wisconsin/La Crosse, Wis.)
Caleb Furst (Blackhawk Christian School/Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Chet Holmgren (Minnehaha Academy/Minneapolis, Minn.)
Harrison Ingram (St. Mark’s School/Dallas, Texas)
Jaden Ivey (Purdue/South Bend, Ind.)
Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton/St. Louis, Mo.)
Kenneth Lofton, Jr. (Louisiana Tech/Port Arthur, Texas)
Mike Miles (TCU/Lancaster, Texas)
Adam Miler (LSU/Chicago, Ill.)
Peyton Watson (Long Beach Poly Tech HS/Long Beach, Calif.)
Kenneth Lofton Jr
USA Basketball Notes
- Announced on June 24 to the 2021 U19 World Cup Team.
College Notes
- As a freshman at Louisiana Tech during the 2020-21 season, played in 32 games (28 starts), averaging 12.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 1.0 spg.
- Recorded a team-high nine double-doubles, team-best five 20+ point games and registered the most double-digit scoring games with 22.
- Pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds at North Texas on Feb. 12, 2021.
- Registered 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, a career-high three blocks and a career-high four steals versus Mississippi State in the NIT Final Four.
- His 241 total rebounds ranked 25th in the country.
- Selected on the third-team All-Conference USA
- C-USA Freshman of the Year
- C-USA All-Freshman Team
- Nine-time C-USA Freshman of the Week.
High School Honors
- 2020 District Offensive Player of the Year
- 2020 All-Greater Houston Third Team
- 2020 TABC 5A All-Region
- 2020 5A All-State
- 2019 5A First Team All-District
- 2019 5A All-Region
High School Notes
- As a senior during the 2019-20 season, led Port Arthur High School (TX), to 29 wins and a share of the 21-5A district title. Averaged 17.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 3.0 apg.
- Recorded 13 double-doubles his senior year.
- As a junior in 2018-19, averaged 15 ppg and 12 rpg.
- Was a member of the 2018 Texas 5A state champions.
Personal Notes
- Nickname is Junior
Kenneth Lofton Jr.: 3 things to know about the Louisiana Tech basketball forward
Kenneth Lofton Jr. piled up the accolades during his first season with the Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team.
During the 2020-21 season, Lofton earned Conference USA all-conference third team honors along with making the all-freshman team.
On the way to earning those honors, Conference USA named him freshman of the week eight times.
Here is some basic information about Kenneth Lofton Jr.:
- Nickname: Junior
- Height: 6 feet, 7 inches
- Weight: 275 pounds
- Age: 18 years old
- Birthday: Aug. 14, 2002
- Hometown: Port Arthur, Texas
- High school: Port Arthur Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas
Find out three more things about LA Tech men’s basketball forward Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Who is Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s dad, Kenneth Lofton Sr.?
Louisiana Tech forward Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s dad is not former MLB All-Star Kenny Lofton.
Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s parents are Kenneth Sr. and Gina Duhon Lofton.
Kenneth Lofton Sr. served in the U.S. Army and attended Lamar University. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 18 years, according to Lofton’s bio following his election to the Port Arthur school board.
The younger Lofton grew up playing guard until a late growth spurt, and he says his dad made him learn post moves even before his growth spurt.
“When I played guard at Memorial, I knew how to play the post pretty good,” Kenneth Lofton Jr. said to the Port Arthur News. “My dad used to show me videos of Hakeem Olajuwon. I just happened to grow. I know how to handle the ball and make plays.”
Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s sister Kennedi Lofton played basketball at Southern
Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s older sister Kennedi Lofton played women’s basketball at Southern University from 2017-20.
Southern women’s basketball reached the 2019 NCAA Tournament after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament. Southern received a No. 16 seed and lost 103-46 to No. 1 seed Mississippi State.
Southern won the SWAC regular-season titles in both 2017-18 and 2018-19. Southern lost to Grambling in the 2018 SWAC Tournament title game, so it went to the WNIT, where it lost to Alabama in the first round.
The grandfather of Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Kennedi Lofton is Gene “Rock” Duhon, a member of the Southern University Track Hall of Fame. Duhon competed at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, according to his 2018 obituary.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. a high school teammate of Oral Roberts center Nate Clover III
Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Nate Clover III were high school teammates at Port Arthur Memorial High School, and they both graduated high school in 2020.
No. 15-seeded Oral Roberts reached the 2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 by upsetting Ohio State and Florida.
Clover played in 15 games during the regular season for Oral Roberts. He scored a season-high 11 points with four rebounds against Southwestern Christian on Dec. 12, 2020.
As high school sophomores, they were both members of the Memorial team that won the 2017-18 UIL Class 5A boys basketball state championship.
Here’s more Kenneth Lofton Jr. news:
- Kenneth Lofton Jr.:Why Louisiana Tech basketball will rely on freshman Junior Lofton against league-leading UAB
- Louisiana Tech, Ole Miss:Bulldogs upend Rebels in opening round of NIT
- Kenneth Lofton Jr.:Memphis’ Penny Hardaway calls LA Tech’s Kenneth Lofton Jr. a ‘monster,’ ‘matchup problem’
