Gatlin Earns All-America Honors
March 26, 2009
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is proud to announce the 2008-09 Division I Men’s Basketball All-America Teams. The selections are made by the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Association All-America Committee and comprises a First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention Team.
LSUS Men’s Basketball player Chris Gatlin was rewarded for his spectacular senior season by being named to the honorable mention All-American team. Gatlin wore #30 for the Pilots the last two seasons and has helped lead the team to a GCAC regular season title and a regular season runners-up position this season. He was a key member for the Pilots during the last two seasons where the team won their 3rd and 4th consecutive GCAC Tournament Championships. The Pilots made two more appearances (5th consecutive year to qualify) at the NAIA National Tournament.
“I am thankful and honored for the awards I have received this season and just thankful to God for the ability and opportunity to play basketball,” commented Gatlin. “This has been a great two years here at LSUS and I have had so much fun. I wish we could have played our best basketball in Kansas City but just couldn’t put it all together that morning. We still had a great season and I am proud of my teammates and our accomplishments as a team.”
Chris is a 6’7” forward who attended Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge, La. He transferred to LSU Shreveport after playing two years at Bossier Parish Community College. Chris played in all 71 games during his junior and senior seasons and, according to Head Coach Chad McDowell, “really became an offensive force this past season.” Chris led the Pilots in scoring averaging 16.6 points per game and was third in rebounding with 5.5 per contest. He finished the season shooting over 50% from the field and even more impressively 44% from 3-point range. Chris was also selected last month to the All-Conference team.
