Jones, Thorpe named Big South All-Conference; Bulldogs tabbed second in South Division

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference announced its 2021-22 men's basketball preseason all-conference awards and rankings on Wednesday morning, as UNC Asheville's Tajion Jones was named First Team All-Big South with teammate LJ Thorpe garnering Second Team All-Big South honors. The league also announced its preseason poll, tabbing the Bulldogs to finish second in the South Division.

The all-conference teams and poll are voted on by the league's head coaches and media panel. Welcoming N.C. A&T into the Big South, this season the conference will be split into two divisions, with defending champion Winthrop selected to win the South Division and Championship. Asheville, which snapped Winthrop's 21-game win streak and handed the Eagles their only regular-season loss last season, received three first-place votes in the South Division. The Bulldogs are one of just two teams (Campbell) to have more than one representative on the All-Big South Preseason Teams.

"With those two guys, what they've done over their career warrants that type of recognition," said head coach Mike Morrell. "They compliment each other well. They're best friends and it's something they both should take great pride in but I think the thing they take the most pride in is winning."

Named to the 2020-21 All-Big South team, Jones easily had his best season in a blue and white uniform, hitting 68 threes in just 20 games played, accomplishing that feat in 11 fewer games than the year prior.

"I think if we were able to play any games in February, he probably would have made first team last season. But that's something you can't control," said Morrell of Jones' impressive numbers in the COVID-shortened season."

Jones' average of 3.40 threes per game – which ranked sixth in all of Division I - was a new single season program record for the Bulldogs. The redshirt senior enters the 2021-22 campaign as the Big South's active leader in both made 3-pointers (178) and points scored (1,058). In addition to leading the team in scoring (15.9 ppg) last season, the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, native was extremely efficient, pacing the team in 3-point field goal percentage (42.5%), minutes played (33.5) and field goal percentage (47.8 – 3^rd in Big South). It's no surprise Jones has earned the respect of the league, knocking down a conference-best 48 three-pointers in just 16 contests, shooting 46.5 percent from the floor in the process.

"This speaks to how respected he is around the league," Morrell said. "He's not someone who just did it last year. He's done it for a while now. He's got a great group of guys around him who really look for him. He can't take enough shots in my opinion, so well-deserved. I think he's been underrated in the league, but I'm not sure he is anymore."

Thorpe showed his value to the program once again last season, as the do-it-all player ranked second on the team in rebounding (4.1 per game), assists (60 - 3.0 apg) and made field goals (81), earning Big South Honorable Mention for the second straight year.

"Two years in a row he's preseason second team and honorable mention, I think he's to the point where what really matters to him and Tajion is winning," Morrell said of Thorpe.

Ranking third on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg), the West Palm Beach, Florida, native took his play to another level against Big South foes, averaging 13.5 points (11^th, Big South) and 3.5 assists per game. Thorpe knocked down a team-high 55 free throws while leading the team in attempts with 77. In addition to powering the team to key wins against Charleston Southern and Longwood, the redshirt junior shot an impressive .500 from the floor for the season.

"He's as versatile of a player as there is in our league," said Morrell. "He handles the ball, runs the team, rebounds and continues to be a better defender. He's unique in how he plays and we're the beneficiary of it."

The season tips off on November 9, as the Bulldogs travel down to Birmingham, Alabama, to face UAB. Season tickets for 2021-22 are available here.

Rk North Division (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points

1. Campbell (20) 20 5 - 1 - - 148

2. Longwood - 9 7 5 3 2 96

3. North Carolina A&T (3) 3 4 5 8 4 3 92

4. Radford (3) 3 4 5 2 7 5 83

5. Hampton - 2 6 7 4 7 70

6. High Point - 2 3 3 8 10 57

Rk South Division (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points

1. Winthrop (23) 23 2 1 - - - 152

2. UNC Asheville (3) 3 21 2 - - - 131

3. Gardner-Webb - 3 19 4 - - 103

4. Presbyterian College - - 3 15 7 1 72

5. Charleston Southern - - 1 4 10 11 47

6. USC Upstate - - - 3 9 14 41

OVERALL CHAMPION: Winthrop (16 votes), followed by Campbell (8) and North Carolina A&T (2)

Note: points are based on a weighted system. First-place votes in each division received 6 points, followed by 5 points for second-place, and so on.

2021-22 Big South Conference Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
First-Team
D.J. Burns Jr., Winthrop (Preseason Player of the Year)
John-Michael Wright, High Point
Cedric Henderson Jr., Campbell
Tajion Jones, UNC Asheville
Rayshon Harrison, Presbyterian College

Second-Team
Kameron Langley, North Carolina A&T
Jordan Whitfield, Campbell
LJ Thorpe, UNC Asheville
Russell Dean, Hampton
Justin Hill, Longwood