SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University men's basketball senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) has been named one of 20 members of the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Preseason watch list, the National Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday, Oct. 19.
Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top centers in men's college basketball. A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Thompson was named All-Mid-American Conference First Team and NABC All-District 14 First Team after the 2017-18 season, while also earning a spot on the All-MAC Defensive Team.