Indiana basketball senior point guard Xavier Johnson received preseason honors on Monday.
The sixth-year guard was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team by Fox Sports.
Johnson, who played in just 11 games last season due to a broken foot, returns to Indiana for his third season. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2021-22 — his first season at Indiana — after averaging 12.1 points per game and 5.1 assists per game. His play late in the season was a reason for Indiana’s late season run into the NCAA Tournament.
“Well, I thought two years ago, make no mistake about it, we got in the tournament because of Xavier Johnson and his play coming down the home stretch,” Mike Woodson said at Indiana basketball media day. ” Last year was a setback year for him. We didn’t come into last season thinking that we would lose our starting point guard, and that was a blow for us in the stretch where we struggled to win games.”
Johnson was named a team captain this year.
Below is the full release from Indiana basketball.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sixth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team by Fox Sports on Monday afternoon.
Johnson, who was limited to just 11 games in 2022-23 due to a foot injury, was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. In 45 games with Indiana, the former Pitt Panther has averaged 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest. The Woodbridge, Va., native has made 165-of-405 (40.7%) of his shots, 46-of-121 (38.0%) from the 3-point line, and 146-of-186 (78.5%) of his free throws for the Cream and Crimson.
In total, Johnson has tallied 1,674 points during his collegiate career to go with 641 assists, 475 rebounds, and 177 steals.
In 2021-22, his lone complete season with Indiana, Johnson was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the conference’s voting media. He led the Hoosiers in assists (172) and steals (40) while finishing second on the team with 12.1 points per game. Over the final 17 games of the season, Johnson produced 14.2 points and 5.9 assists per night while shooting 41.4% from long range. He tallied 16.7 points per game in Indiana’s three-game march in the Big Ten Tournament.
FIRST TEAM
Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Tyson Walker, Michigan State
Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
Jahmir Young, Maryland
Boo Buie, Northwestern
SECOND TEAM
A.J. Hoggard, Michigan State
Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers
Xavier Johnson, Indiana
Chucky Hepburn, Wisconsin
Olivier Nkamhoua, Michigan
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zach Edey, Purdue
BREAKOUT PLAYER TO WATCH
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
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