Aaron Westley Johnson (born October 27, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski of the Polish Basketball League. He played college basketball for UAB. As a senior in 2010–11, he led NCAA Division I in assists with 7.70 per game.[1] In addition, he was named Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Year.[2]
No. 1 – BK Ventspils | |
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Position | Point guard |
League | LEBL |
Personal information | |
Born | Englewood, Illinois, U.S. | October 27, 1988
Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Hubbard (Chicago, Illinois) |
College | UAB (2007–2011) |
NBA draft | 2011: undrafted |
Playing career | 2011–present |
Career history | |
2011–2012 | Ostuni |
2012–2013 | Vanoli Cremona |
2013–2014 | Bakersfield Jam |
2014 | Reyer Venezia |
2014–2015 | Bisons Loimaa |
2015–2016 | SCM CSU Craiova |
2016–2018 | Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski |
2018–present | Ventspils |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Early life
editJohnson was born and raised in the Englewood area of Chicago. He is the fourth-born child of 12. Despite a rough childhood, Johnson became the first in his family to attend college and graduate.[3]
High school career
editJohnson played high school basketball at Hubbard High School where he was a four-year starter. As a junior he averaged 21 points and nine assists per game, although the team finished with an 11–14 record. The following year, however, Johnson led Hubbard to a 21–9 record while winning the regional championship. He achieved all-city honors after averaging 14 points and nine assists per game. Johnson was also rated as one of the top 25 players in the state of Illinois according to Rivals.com.
College career
editJohnson played college ball for University of Alabama at Birmingham. During the 2009–10 season he was named to the third team all Conference USA and first team all defense. Johnson's best season was his senior year, where he averaged 11.8 points and an NCAA-leading 7.7 assists per game.[4] He led UAB to a 22–9 overall record (12–4 conference) as they won their first outright C-USA regular season title. Johnson also became the first player in UAB history to earn Conference USA Player of the Year honors and an All-American honorable mention.[5] He also was named to the first team all-conference, first team all-defense, and District 11 Second Team.[6]
Johnson's best game came in a triple overtime win against the conference favorite UTEP. He ended the game with 26 points on 9–17 shooting, 14 assists, seven rebounds and 1 steal in 54 minutes of playing time.[7] He also tallied a career best 39 points, four assists and four rebounds in a conference playoff loss to East Carolina.[8] During his last game as a college player, Johnson fractured his fibula.[9] He finished his career at UAB as its all-time leader in assists for a career (664), single season (239), double-figures in a game (10), single season average (7.70) and single game (14). Johnson also finished second in Conference USA history in career assists.
College statistics
editCollege | Year | GP | GS | SPG | RPG | APG | PPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UAB | 2007–08 | 34 | 26 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 5.2 | .436 | .305 | .781 |
UAB | 2008–09 | 34 | 17 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | .392 | .324 | .660 |
UAB | 2009–10 | 34 | 34 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 4.8 | 9.6 | .458 | .372 | .732 |
UAB | 2010–11 | 31 | 31 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 7.7 | 11.8 | .419 | .247 | .779 |
Career | 133 | 108 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 5.0 | 7.5 | .430 | .308 | .751 |
Professional career
editFollowing the close of his collegiate career, Johnson signed with Ostuni Basket of Italy's second division (Legadue Basket).[10] In his first professional year Johnson averaged 15.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.5 assist, 3.7 turnovers, and 1.5 steals while shooting 55% from 2 point field goal range and 33% from 3 along the way to being named to the Legadue SuisseGas All-Star Game.[11][12] Johnson increased his scoring average in the playoffs to 22.3, which was good for 2nd in the league.
On July 19, 2012, Johnson signed with Vanoli Cremona in Italy's A-1 league.[13]
In November 2013, he was acquired by the Bakersfield Jam.[14] On January 23, 2014, he was waived by the Jam.
For the 2014–15 season Johnson signed with the Finnish team Nilan Bisons Loimaa.[15]
On September 15, 2015, Johnson signed with Romanian team SCM CSU Craiova.[16] On July 17, 2016, Johnson signed with Polish team Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski.[17]
Professional statistics
editprofessional | Year | GP | GS | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | 2FG% | 3P% | FT% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assi Ostuni | 2011–12 | 31 | 31 | 15.0 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .55 | .33 | .747 |
Career | 31 | 31 | 15.0 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .55 | .33 | .747 |
References
edit- ^ "Aaron Johnson Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ Irvine, Steve (March 9, 2011). "Mike Davis and Aaron Johnson earn top C-USA honors". Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ "Unselfish Aaron Johnson closing in on UAB Blazers assists record – ESPN". ESPN. January 5, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Aaron Johnson – UAB Blazers – College Basketball – Rivals.com". Rivals.yahoo.com. April 20, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "UAB's Johnson Named AP Honorable Mention All-American – Conference USA Official Athletic Site". Conferenceusa.cstv.com. March 28, 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "CUSA : Year-by-Year Final Standings (2010–11)" (PDF). Grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "UTEP Miners vs. UAB Blazers – Box Score – January 08, 2011 – ESPN". Espn.go.com. January 8, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "East Carolina Pirates vs. UAB Blazers – Box Score – March 10, 2011 – ESPN". Espn.go.com. March 10, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Aaron Johnson Leg Break (Video Link)". Allvoices.com. March 15, 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Italy – Assi Basket Ostuni signs Aaron Johnson and Mareks Jurevicus | MLBB – Sports Agency WebSite Template". Mlbb.gr. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Aaron Johnson Player Profile, pallacanestro, Vanoli CR, International Stats, Game Logs". Eurobasket. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Legadue Basket". Legaduebasket.it. March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Cremona officially signs Aaron Johnson". Sportando.net. July 19, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Bakersfield Jam Set Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ "Bisons put Aaron Johnson at point". Sportando.com. July 30, 2014.
- ^ "Baschet Craiova signs Aaron Johnson, parts ways with Jovanovic, Peters". September 15, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
- ^ "Aaron Johnson inks with Stal Ostrow". July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
External links
edit- Italian League profile Archived 2016-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
- UAB Blazers bio