By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Coming off one of the most successful seasons in school history, Kennesaw State saw several of its players honored by Conference USA on Monday, highlighted by Adrian Wooley claiming Freshman of the Year honors. The sensational first-year player also was named to the All-CUSA First Team, while Simeon Cottle was the top vote-receiver on the second team. In addition, Wooley and Braedan Lue were named to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
The Owls, picked to finish in last place in the preseason coaches' poll, surprised all by finishing in fourth place with a 10-8 mark in the league, while also recording an 18-13 overall record, which is the second-most wins ever in school history (D1 era).
Wooley, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., has turned in one of the most impressive seasons by any freshmen in the nation, and currently ranks as the fifth-highest scoring freshman in the nation with 18.5 points per game. That also ranks him third overall in Conference USA, while he also ranks sixth among all freshmen in field goal percentage at 51.3%, and 13th among freshman in assists per game at 3.5. He is one of just two freshmen in the nation, along with Cooper Flagg from Duke, to lead their team in both scoring and field goal percentage and is one pace to become the first-ever freshman in CUSA history to average over 17 points per game and shoot over 50% from the floor. On Sunday, he set a new league record with his 11th CUSA Freshman of the Week award after helping the Owls to a win at first-place Jacksonville State to end the regular season.
Cottle, a junior guard from College Park, Ga., is one of the top shooters in CUSA, and is averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game, which ranks him fourth in the league. He has scored in double-figures in 28 of 30 games this year, including in the last 22 straight contests, and has a pair of 30-point games this season, including 30 in the Owls' home win over Western Kentucky. Cottle also has scored 20 or more points 11 times this year, most recently with 24 in KSU's upset win at Liberty on March 2. He currently leads the conference in free throw percentage at 88.3%, and is fourth in three-point field goals per game at 2.7.
Lue, a forward from Douglasville, Ga., has made his mark as one of the top freshmen in the league as he ranks third on the team in scoring this season with 9.8 points per game. His 5.4 rebounds per game average is second-best on the team, 15th in CUSA, while he leads KSU with 30 total blocks this season, with a 1.0 BPG average that is ninth-highest in the league. He has scored in double-figures in 13 games this season, eight in CUSA action, and claimed CUSA Freshman of the Week honors once this season after leading KSU to home victories over Sam Houston and Louisiana Tech.
KSU will be the No. 4 seed in this week's CUSA Tournament, and will open in the quarterfinals against fifth-seed New Mexico State on Thursday, March 13. The game will tip off at 6:30 pm (ET) and will be streamed live on ESPN+. The winner of that contest will advance to the semifinal round on Friday, March 14 at 12:30 p.m. (ET), while the championship game is set for Saturday, March 15 at 8:30 p.m. (ET). Both semifinal contests and the championship game in the CUSA Tournament will be on the CBS Sports Network.
Kennesaw State
2024-25 All-Conference USA Honors
CUSA Freshman of the Year:
Adrian Wooley
CUSA First Team All-Conference
Adrian Wooley
CUSA Second Team All-Conference
Simeon Cottle
CUSA All-Freshman
Adrian Wooley
Braedan Lue
