C-USA Honors: Efe Odigie Recognized; Hawkins & Lathon Snubbed

As the 2019 All C-USA selections came to light, many anticipated the All-Freshman list to be flooded with Miners.

But today, as the conference released their honorable selections, UTEP only had one representation: Freshman forward Efe Odigie to the All-C-USA Freshman team.

No Jordan Lathon, no Nigel Hawkins.

Here's the full list, per C-USA:

2018-19 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
Jon Elmore, Marshall, Sr., G, 6-3, 185, Charleston, West Virginia (repeat first team selection)
Ahmad Caver, Old Dominion, Sr., G, 6-2, 170, Atlanta, Georgia (repeat first team selection)
B.J. Stith, Old Dominion, Sr., G, 6-5, 215, Lawrenceville, Virginia
Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA, So., G, 6-0, 160, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Charles Bassey, WKU, Fr., C, 6-11, 245, Lagos, Nigeria

2018-19 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM
Jon Davis, Charlotte, Sr., G, 6-2, 200, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Brian Beard Sr., FIU, Jr., G, 5-10, 180, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Cortez Edwards, Southern Miss, Sr., G, 6-2, 180, Kissimmee, Florida
Tyree Griffin, Southern Miss, R-Sr., G, 5-10, 175, New Orleans, Louisiana
Keaton Wallace, UTSA, So., G, 6-3, 175, Richardson, Texas

2018-19 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM
Anthony Adger, Florida Atlantic, Sr., G, 6-1, 170, Anderson, South Carolina
C.J. Burks, Marshall, Jr., G, 6-4, 195, Martinsburg, West Virginia
Antonio Green, Middle Tennessee, R-Jr., G, 6-2, 190, Tupelo, Mississippi
Ryan Woolridge, North Texas, Jr., G, 6-3, 175, Mansfield, Texas
Zack Bryant, UAB, So., G, 6-2, 183, Hastings, Florida
Taveion Hollingsworth, WKU, So., G, 6-2, 165, Lexington, Kentucky

2018-19 CONFERENCE USA ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Taevion Kinsey, Marshall, Fr., G, 6-5, 177, Columbus, Ohio
Umoja Gibson, North Texas, R-Fr., G, 6-1, 160, Waco, Texas
Chris Mullins, Rice, Fr., G, 6-3, 170, Grand Prairie, Texas
Efe Odigie, UTEP, Fr., F, 6-9, 280, Houston, Texas
Charles Bassey, WKU, Fr., C, 6-11, 245, Lagos, Nigeria

2018-19 CONFERENCE USA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Brian Beard Sr., FIU, Jr., G, 5-10, 180, Rancho Cucamonga, California (repeat selection)
Osasumwen Osaghae, FIU, Jr., F, 6-7, 250, Miami, Florida
Xavier Green, Old Dominion, So., G, 6-6, 200, Williamsburg, Virginia
Cortez Edwards, Southern Miss, Sr., G, 6-2, 180, Kissimmee, Florida
Charles Bassey, WKU, Fr., C, 6-11, 245, Lagos, Nigeria

Odigie brought the most accomplishments to the table initially. He averaged 12.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, making him the first player to average a double-double at UTEP since Terry White did in 1982 (10.1 ppg, 10 rebounds).

Odigie piled up 252 rebounds in 25 games and his 10.1 rebounding average per game is the best by a UTEP freshman since Anthony Burns' 9.4 rebounds in 1777-78.

Odigie averaged 12.7 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per contest. He is the first UTEP player to finish the season averaging a double-double since Terry White did so (10.1 ppg/10.2 rpg) in 1981-82. Odigie is one of nine Miners to average a double-double in a single season.

He is still leading C-USA in rebounds per game, above Western Kentucky freshman Charles Bassey's 9.9 rebounds per game.

It was truly a remarkable year for the Houston native and his future with the UTEP program looks extremely bright.

But what about Hawkins and Lathon? Let's take a look at the backcourt honorees:

Chris Mullins (Rice) - 12.3 ppg, 2.6 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 39.4% FG, 2.1 rebounds, 28 minutes per game, 21-of-28 games started
Umoja Gibson (UNT) - 12.5 ppg, 1.8 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 40% FG, 2.7 rebounds, 28.8 minutes per game, 21-of-31 games started
Taevion Kinsey (Marshall) - 9.9 ppg, 1.3 assists, 0.9 turnovers, 56% FG, 2.7 rebounds, 24.1 minutes per game, 13-of-29 games started

Now let's look at Hawkins & Lathon:

Nigel Hawkins: 12.6 ppg, 1.7 assists, 2.9 turnovers, 34% FG, 4.5 rebounds, 33.8 minutes per game, 27-of-27 games started
Jordan Lathon: 10.9 ppg, 2.7 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 40% FG, 5.0 rebounds, 32.9 minutes per game, 27-of-27 games started

Nigel Hawkins averaged more points (12.6) than Chris Mullins (Rice), Taevion Kinsey (Marshall) and Umoja Gibson (UNT). Hawkins (34 min.) and Lathon (33 min.) averaged more minutes than any of the freshmen that were honored by C-USA. Both Hawkins and Lathon were in the top-15 of C-USA in minutes played per game.

Both Hawkins and Lathon would probably laugh when reading the honorees. You can argue that even Odigie could be a bit pissed off that he wasn't named on the All-Conference honorees. Bottom line is this group was snubbed and maybe a last-place finish in the conference had to do with it. Like Paul Thomas told me last week, this bunch will one day have the last laugh.