Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Johnson one of 20 named to McClain Award Watch List
11/9/2017 12:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Award recognizes nation's top power forwards
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Rick Insell has lauded Alex Johnson as one of the top forwards in the nation in recent interviews with local, regional and national media.
Members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association agree.
Johnson, the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, has been selected as one of 20 players nationally named to the watch list for the 2018 Katrina McClain Award, which recognizes the top power forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
"This is totally unexpected, but I am truly humbled and honored by this recognition," Johnson said. "To be mentioned with some of the top power forwards in the nation is such an honor. I will continue to work hard to live up to these standards, on and off the court."
Johnson is the only in-state player and sole representative from C-USA on the 20-player list. The Katrina McClain Award is named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year from the University of Georgia.
"What a tremendous honor for Alex Johnson and our basketball program," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "To be listed among the Top 20 power forwards across the nation is pretty strong. Alex is certainly worthy and deserving. Alex has had the opportunity to play against some of the top programs in the country in her first two years, and she has excelled."
Johnson was the C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2015, and was a first-team All C-USA selection as a sophomore in 2016. With 1,086 points in 67 career games, Johnson is the highest-scoring Lady Raider after two seasons in program history.
Johnson scored double figures in 32 of 34 games as a sophomore with 15 games of 20-plus points, while finishing second in C-USA and 17th nationally in scoring with 20.2 points per game. She also ranked among national leaders for free-throw percentage, free throws made and field goal percentage. Her 687 points in 2016-17 rank fifth on the single-season scoring list at Middle Tennessee.
The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The initial 20-person Watch List will be narrowed to 10 by mid-February. In March, five finalists will be presented to the Committee.
2018 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Lauren Cox, Baylor
Kristine Anigwe, California
Camille Zimmerman, Columbia
Napheesa Collier, Connecticut
Leaonna Odom, Duke
Haley Lorenzen, Florida
G'mrice Davis, Fordham
Caliya Robinson, Georgia
Ashunae Durant, Hofstra
Megan Gustafson, Iowa
Myisha Hines-Allen, Louisville
Erykah Davenport, Miami
Alex Johnson, Middle Tennessee
Jordan Frericks, Missouri
Ruthy Hebard, Oregon
Michelle Nwokedi, Penn
Bella Alarie, Princeton
Mael Gilles, Rutgers
Maria Jesperson, South Florida
Jatarie White, Texas
Members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association agree.
Johnson, the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, has been selected as one of 20 players nationally named to the watch list for the 2018 Katrina McClain Award, which recognizes the top power forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
"This is totally unexpected, but I am truly humbled and honored by this recognition," Johnson said. "To be mentioned with some of the top power forwards in the nation is such an honor. I will continue to work hard to live up to these standards, on and off the court."
Johnson is the only in-state player and sole representative from C-USA on the 20-player list. The Katrina McClain Award is named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year from the University of Georgia.
"What a tremendous honor for Alex Johnson and our basketball program," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "To be listed among the Top 20 power forwards across the nation is pretty strong. Alex is certainly worthy and deserving. Alex has had the opportunity to play against some of the top programs in the country in her first two years, and she has excelled."
Johnson was the C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2015, and was a first-team All C-USA selection as a sophomore in 2016. With 1,086 points in 67 career games, Johnson is the highest-scoring Lady Raider after two seasons in program history.
Johnson scored double figures in 32 of 34 games as a sophomore with 15 games of 20-plus points, while finishing second in C-USA and 17th nationally in scoring with 20.2 points per game. She also ranked among national leaders for free-throw percentage, free throws made and field goal percentage. Her 687 points in 2016-17 rank fifth on the single-season scoring list at Middle Tennessee.
The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The initial 20-person Watch List will be narrowed to 10 by mid-February. In March, five finalists will be presented to the Committee.
2018 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Lauren Cox, Baylor
Kristine Anigwe, California
Camille Zimmerman, Columbia
Napheesa Collier, Connecticut
Leaonna Odom, Duke
Haley Lorenzen, Florida
G'mrice Davis, Fordham
Caliya Robinson, Georgia
Ashunae Durant, Hofstra
Megan Gustafson, Iowa
Myisha Hines-Allen, Louisville
Erykah Davenport, Miami
Alex Johnson, Middle Tennessee
Jordan Frericks, Missouri
Ruthy Hebard, Oregon
Michelle Nwokedi, Penn
Bella Alarie, Princeton
Mael Gilles, Rutgers
Maria Jesperson, South Florida
Jatarie White, Texas
Players Mentioned
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