LSU guards Marcus Thornton and Allison Hightower were named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Louisiana Players of the Year, the LSU Athletic Department announced Sunday.
Thornton, a senior, was a unanimous choice at Louisiana Player of the Year after guiding LSU to a Southeastern Conference regular season championship and a second-round NCAA tournament berth.
The Baton Rouge native was also named SEC Player of the Year after averaging 21.1 points per game this season.
Joining Thornton on the All-Louisiana team were junior forward Tasmin Mitchell on the first team, senior guard Garrett Temple and sophomore guard Bo Spencer on the second team and senior center Chris Johnson on the third team.
LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson was named Louisiana Coach of the Year.
Hightower, a junior, is the sixth straight Lady Tiger to win Louisiana Player of the Year. Former center Sylvia Fowles won the last two honors, and former guard Seimone Augustus won three straight from 2004 to 2006.
The Arlington, Texas, native won the award by one vote ahead of Louisiana Tech junior forward Shanavia Dowdell. Hightower was LSU’s only first-team member.
LSU freshman forward LaSondra Barrett, the Co-SEC Freshman of the Year, was named to the second team and won Louisiana Freshman of the Year.
LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor finished second in the voting for Louisiana Coach of the Year behind LSU-Shreveport’s Ronnie Howell. Howell won by one vote.
 
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