The University of Akron Athletics
Tavari Johnson Named Finalist for the Nolan Richardson Award
March 10 | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass - For the second straight year, University of Akron guard Tavari Johnson has been named a finalist for the Nolan Richardson Award, as announced by CollegeInsider.com on Tuesday, March 10.
The senior guard has scored in double-figures 29 times, while scoring 15 or more points in 25 games. Johnson has recorded five or more assists in 18 games, setting a new career-high of 11 assists against Milwaukee, and has led Akron in assists in 20 games while appearing and starting all 31 regular-season contests.
Johnson is averaging 20.2 points per game, with a career-high 35 coming against Yale in the Paradise Jam. He is also averaging 5.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
The award is presented annually to a division I player who is the heart and soul of his team and a leader on and off the court.
The Nolan Richardson award is named in honor of one of the true legends of the game. His frenetic style of fast-break basketball, with full-court pressure, helped him become the only coach to win NJCCA, NIT and NCAA National Championships. After winning a junior college national championship at Western Texas College, Richardson went on to lead Tulsa to the NIT Championship in his first season at the helm. He averaged 24 wins per season in his five years at Tulsa, leading the Golden Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
