Coming off his 32-point, 16-rebound performance in the win over Arkansas State Saturday, Kamani Johnson has been named the Sun Belt Conference's Player of the Week. It is Johnson's second conference accolade this season and the fifth by a Little Rock player.
Johnson paced the Trojans in the win over the Red Wolves, setting career highs in both points (32) and rebounds (16). He went 9-of-12 from the floor and 14-of-19 from the free throw line, scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the second half to provide Little Rock's offensive spark. Johnson also tallied a block in the final minute on a Red Wolves shot attempt, getting the ball back to the Trojans to close out the win.
It was Johnson's fifth double-double of the season and the second time this season he has eclipsed 30 points, doing so back on January 4 against UT Arlington. Johnson has been a constant force for Little Rock in 2019-20, ranking fourth on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg) and second in rebounds (6.8) as the Brooklyn, New York native is sixth in the Sun Belt in rebounding and second in offensive rebounds (2.9).
The honor for Johnson is the fifth Sun Belt weekly accolade for Little Rock this season, setting a new program record for a single season. Johnson earned his first Player of the Week honor on January 6 while teammate Markquis Nowell brought home the award on November 19, December 3 and February 3.
Johnson and the rest of the Trojans prepare for a crucial final home series this week against the Louisiana schools, beginning Thursday with a 6:30 p.m. tip against ULM. Little Rock holds a game and a half lead for first place in the Sun Belt with three games to play, needing one win to secure a share of the regular season conference title and two victories to win the league outright.
2019-20 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Players of the Week
November 12: Josh Ajayi, South Alabama
November 19: Markquis Nowell, Little Rock
November 26: Elijah McCadden, Georgia Southern
December 3: Markquis Nowell, Little Rock
December 9: DeVante Jones, Coastal Carolina
December 16: Nijal Pearson, Texas State
December 23: Justin Forrest, Appalachian State
December 30: Ike Smith, Georgia Southern
January 6: Kamani Johnson, Little Rock and Michael Ertel, ULM
January 13: Nijal Pearson, Texas State
January 20: Josh Ajayi, South Alabama
January 27: Jalen Johnson, Louisiana
February 3: Justin Forrest, Appalachian State and Markquis Nowell, Little Rock
February 10: Quan Jackson, Georgia Southern
February 17: Nijal Pearson, Texas State
February 24: Kamani Johnson, Little Rock
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