Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Johnson one of nation's top power forwards
10/25/2018 3:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Named to McClain Award Watch List
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee senior Alex Johnson has been named to the 2018-19 Katrina McClain Award Watch List as one of the top power forwards in Division I college basketball.
Johnson is one of 20 players nationally to be named to the preseason watch list, marking the second straight year she has been so honored.
"Very, very deserving," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said when informed of the news. "(AJ) is a tremendous talent but, more than that, she is a great person and teammate. You simply will not find many better in terms of the complete package. AJ is coming off a tough year in which she had to fight injury most of the season, but she still competed and was a strong leader for us.
"AJ has had a solid offseason and she is determined and committed to go out strong."
Johnson is a three-year starter for the Lady Raiders and has a 15.6 points per game career scoring average. She enters the 2018-19 campaign 18th on the all-time scoring list at Middle Tennessee with 1,356 points. Johnson is on course to become one of only four players in program history to surpass the 2,000-point mark.
Despite missing 11 games with a foot injury last season, Johnson still managed to average 13.5 points in 25 minutes of action per game. She averaged 19.9 points and 5.6 rebounds over the final eight contests, scoring 20 or more four times in that stretch. Johnson capped that run with a 32-point, 14-rebound performance against Rice in the C-USA quarterfinals.
Johnson is a two-time All C-USA selection and was the 2016 Freshman of the Year in the league.
"I am really looking forward to this season and a strong senior year with all of my teammates," Johnson said. "Last season was tough with being sidelined early and not being out there to help my team. We have worked hard and put in the work during the offseason. The biggest thing for me this season is to be a good leader and help our team achieve its goals."
The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is comprised of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The list will be narrowed down to 10 in mid-February and then five finalists will be selected in March that will be presented to Katrina McClain and the selection committee. The winner of this award will be presented live at a ceremony hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association at the NCAA Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
Johnson and the Lady Raiders will play the first of two exhibition basketball games when they face Lindsey Wilson at Murphy Center Sunday. Tipoff is 2 p.m. Lindsey Wilson was ranked No. 13 in the preseason NAIA national poll.
2018-19 Katrina McClain Award
Watch List
Kianna Ibis, Arizona State
Lauren Cox, Baylor
Reyna Frost, Central Michigan
Napheesa Collier, Connecticut
Audrey Faber, Creighton
Sara Rhine, Drake
Caliya Robinson, Georgia
Peyton Williams, Kansas State
Brianna Fraser, Maryland
Alex Johnson, Middle Tennessee
Anriel Howard, Mississippi State
Jessica Shepard, Notre Dame
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Northwestern
Ruthy Hebard, Oregon
Bella Alarie, Princeton
Alexis Jennings, South Carolina
Alanna Smith, Stanford
Amy Okonkwo, TCU
Charli Collier, Texas
Megan Huff, Utah
Johnson is one of 20 players nationally to be named to the preseason watch list, marking the second straight year she has been so honored.
"Very, very deserving," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said when informed of the news. "(AJ) is a tremendous talent but, more than that, she is a great person and teammate. You simply will not find many better in terms of the complete package. AJ is coming off a tough year in which she had to fight injury most of the season, but she still competed and was a strong leader for us.
"AJ has had a solid offseason and she is determined and committed to go out strong."
Johnson is a three-year starter for the Lady Raiders and has a 15.6 points per game career scoring average. She enters the 2018-19 campaign 18th on the all-time scoring list at Middle Tennessee with 1,356 points. Johnson is on course to become one of only four players in program history to surpass the 2,000-point mark.
Despite missing 11 games with a foot injury last season, Johnson still managed to average 13.5 points in 25 minutes of action per game. She averaged 19.9 points and 5.6 rebounds over the final eight contests, scoring 20 or more four times in that stretch. Johnson capped that run with a 32-point, 14-rebound performance against Rice in the C-USA quarterfinals.
Johnson is a two-time All C-USA selection and was the 2016 Freshman of the Year in the league.
"I am really looking forward to this season and a strong senior year with all of my teammates," Johnson said. "Last season was tough with being sidelined early and not being out there to help my team. We have worked hard and put in the work during the offseason. The biggest thing for me this season is to be a good leader and help our team achieve its goals."
The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is comprised of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The list will be narrowed down to 10 in mid-February and then five finalists will be selected in March that will be presented to Katrina McClain and the selection committee. The winner of this award will be presented live at a ceremony hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association at the NCAA Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
Johnson and the Lady Raiders will play the first of two exhibition basketball games when they face Lindsey Wilson at Murphy Center Sunday. Tipoff is 2 p.m. Lindsey Wilson was ranked No. 13 in the preseason NAIA national poll.
2018-19 Katrina McClain Award
Watch List
Kianna Ibis, Arizona State
Lauren Cox, Baylor
Reyna Frost, Central Michigan
Napheesa Collier, Connecticut
Audrey Faber, Creighton
Sara Rhine, Drake
Caliya Robinson, Georgia
Peyton Williams, Kansas State
Brianna Fraser, Maryland
Alex Johnson, Middle Tennessee
Anriel Howard, Mississippi State
Jessica Shepard, Notre Dame
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Northwestern
Ruthy Hebard, Oregon
Bella Alarie, Princeton
Alexis Jennings, South Carolina
Alanna Smith, Stanford
Amy Okonkwo, TCU
Charli Collier, Texas
Megan Huff, Utah
Players Mentioned
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